Histories

There is little rain in Assyria. This nourishes the roots of the grain; but it is irrigation from the river that ripens the crop and brings the grain to fullness. In Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt, the river itself rises and floods the fields; in Assyria, they are watered by hand and by swinging beams.[*](That is, by the “shadoof,” a familiar object to travellers on the Nahr an- Nil [31.1,30.166] (river), AfricaNile; a lever with a bucket attached, revolving on a post.)

For the whole land of Babylon [44.4,32.55] (deserted settlement), Babil, Iraq, AsiaBabylon, like Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt, is cut across by canals. The greatest of these is navigable: it runs towards where the sun rises in winter, from the Euphrates [47.5,31.83] (river), AsiaEuphrates to another river, the Tigris [47.416,31] (river), AsiaTigris, on which stood the city of Nineveh (deserted settlement), Ninawa, Iraq, Asia Ninus. This land is by far the most fertile in grain which we know.