404 
THE EUPHRATES. 
The name of Phrat, or Euphrates, Josephus describes as derived 
from words denoting fruitfulness, or dispersion, and either apply 
to the history of this river. Its course comprehends an extent 
of fourteen hundred miles, but its width varies considerably 
during so long a journey. At the city of Beer, it is from 600 
to 214 yards across; at El Dur, it is 80 ; and at Hillah not more 
than 430 feet. Between the ruins of the Kasr, and the village of 
Anana, it measures 450. It is curious to remark, that Strabo 
describes its width about this spot to be a stadium, (500 
feet;) not much difference, in so considerable a lapse of time. 
Wherever else I had an opportunity of estimating the distances 
across, I never found them to exceed 700. The rising of these wa¬ 
ters commences sooner than those of the Tigris, the change being 
first perceptible early in March, and by the close of April they 
are seen at their extreme height, twelve feet perpendicular above 
their accustomed surface. They remain thus until the end of 
June, when they rapidly fall to their common level and usually 
tranquil course. During the depth of winter, about January, a 
partial increase is observed, but it almost immediately disappears. 
The progress of the spring-flood must be very terrific and im¬ 
petuous ; and not having witnessed it myself, I feel that my pic¬ 
ture of this mighty stream would be incomplete, if I omitted the 
description which our resident has given. “ The Euphrates, (he 
observes,) when at its height, overflows the surrounding country, 
fills the canals dug for its reception, without the slightest exertion 
of the people’s labour, and facilitates agriculture in a surprising 
degree. The ruins of Babylon are then inundated so as to render 
many parts of them inaccessible, by converting the valleys among 
them into morasses. But the most remarkable inundation of 
the Euphrates is at Felugiah, twelve leagues to the westward of 
