'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎413] (494/905)

chap'. xviii.]
village of sphiri.
413
the western side of the city; from whence, after making a The Koweik
tortuous course in the previous direction, of 20 miles far- lake ei Meiak.
ther, it passes the castle and town of Kinnisrin. 1 At some
little distance beyond this place it sweeps eastward along the
foot of Jebel-el-Sis, till at one hour from the village of
Sphiri it enters the marshes and lake of El Melak : this last
receives a second river coming through that village, besides
several other fresh streams. The lake contains a great many
small islands, and its surface is literally covered with
flamingoes, geese, ducks, and other aquatic birds. In winter
time its circumference probably exceeds 50 miles, and at this
season its waters are somewhat bitter; but afterwards they
gradually dissolve a portion of the concentrated particles of
salt with which the bed is impregnated. During the dry
season, however, the extent of the water is reduced to less
than 30 miles in circumference, while the powerful evapora
tion of the summer heat causes it gradually to crystallize, and
fine salt is formed in such quantities as to supply a consider-
ble part of Syria.
Although but a small place, Sphiri is remarkable for its Prosperity of
prosperity, and the pleasing contrast it affords when compared p in '
with other Arab villages. The houses are well built of sun-
dried bricks, and contain several clean apartments looking
into an interior court. The inhabitants have become settled
cultivators, and enjoy the advantages of an improved system of
husbandry, with better farming implements than they formerly
had: these, and the practice of irrigation have been intro
duced by the sheikh, who is thus enabled to obtain a succes
sion of crops; he has also made a good road, and planted
trees on each side in order to afford an agreeable shade. 2
A plain, bearing marks of having formerly been > culti y ate ^'^ c a ? e n s t ^ ulti .
extends south -westward from the village of Sphiri to the El vation>
Amri range, and in this last are extensive and well-con
structed troglodyte habitations ; there is also an ancient
i
After Aleppo, it passes Kinnisrln, thence to the Merj-el-Ahmar, and is
lost in a marsh.— Jaubert's Edrisi, Recueil, &c., tome VI., pp. 135, 13b.
Visit of Dr. Heifer in 1836.
■"J