164 
AQUEDUCTS. 
to places in wliich there was none before, evidently shows that they 
were held in the same degree of consequence as at the present day. 
Such is the local consequence of a new kanaut, that the day when the 
water is brought to its ultimate destination is made a day of rejoicing 
among the peasants. The astrologers are consulted to name a for¬ 
tunate hour for the appearance of the stream; and when it comes forth 
it is received by songs and music, attended by shouts of joy, and ex¬ 
clamations of moharek hashed, “ prosperity attend it.” 
The labour and expense of a kanaut of course depends greatly upon 
the distance from whence the water is to be brought. The mode of 
making the wells is very simple. A shaft is first dug, then a wooden 
trundle is placed over it, from which is suspended a leather bucket, 
which is filled with the excavations by a man below, and wound up by 
another above. Where the soil is soft, the mouths of the wells are 
secured by masonry. 
This mode of procuring water is common to the whole of Persia; 
and although a particular and most important object is hereby attained, 
yet it doubtless gives a great advantage to an enemy, who, by the de¬ 
struction of objects so valuable, so defenceless, and so easily destroyed, 
may in a day injure the work of years, and ruin, perhaps permanently, 
the cultivation of a large district. It is recorded that the Scythians, in 
their retreat before the Persians*, filled up the wells and fountains 
* Herodotus, Melpomene, 120. 
