CHAPTER II.  CLIMATE AND PRODUCTIONS.

The Babylonian Empire, lying as it did between the thirtieth and thirty-seventh parallels of north latitude, and consisting mostly of comparatively low countries, enjoyed a climate which was, upon the whole, considerably warmer than that of Media, and less subject to extreme variations.  In its more southern parts-Susiana, Chaldaea (or Babylonia Proper), Philistia, and Edom—–­the intensity of the summer heat must have been great; but the winters were mild and of short duration.  In the middle regions of Central Mesopotamia, the Euphrates valley, the Palmyrene, Coele-Syria, Judaea, and Phoenicia, while the winters were somewhat colder and longer, the summer warmth was more tolerable.  Towards the north, along the flanks of Masius, Taurus, and Amanus, a climate more like that of eastern Media prevailed, the summers being little less hot than those of the middle region, while the winters were of considerable severity.  A variety of climate thus existed, but a variety within somewhat narrow limits.  The region was altogether hotter and drier than is usual in the same latitude.  The close proximity of the great Arabian desert, the small size of the adjoining seas, the want of mountains within the region having any great elevation, and the general absence of timber, combined to produce an amount of heat and dryness scarcely known elsewhere outside the tropics.

Detailed accounts of the temperature, and of the climate generally, in the most important provinces of the Empire, Babylonia and Mesopotamia Proper, have been already given, and on these points the reader is referred to the first volume.  With regard to the remaining provinces, it may be noticed, in the first place, that the climate of Susiana differs but very slightly from that of Babylonia, the region to which it is adjacent.  The heat in summer is excessive, the thermometer, even in the hill country, at an elevation of 5000 feet, standing often at 107 deg.  Fahr. in the shade.  The natives construct for themselves serdaubs, or subterranean apartments, in which they live during the day, thus somewhat reducing the temperature, but probably never bringing it much below 100 degrees.  They sleep at night in the open air on the flat roofs of their houses.  So far as there is any difference of climate at this season between Susiana and Babylonia, it is in favor of the former.  The heat, though scorching, is rarely oppressive; and not unfrequently a cool, invigorating breeze sets in from the mountains, which refreshes both mind and body.  The winters are exceedingly mild, snow being unknown on the plains, and rare on the mountains, except at a considerable elevation.  At this time, however—­from December to the end of March—­rain falls in tropical abundance; and occasionally there are violent hail-storms, which inflict serious injury on the crops.  The spring-time in Susiana is delightful.  Soft airs fan the cheek, laden with the scent of flowers; a carpet of verdure is spread over the plains; the sky is cloudless, or overspread with a thin gauzy veil; the heat of the sun is not too great; the rivers run with full banks and fill the numerous canals; the crops advance rapidly towards perfection; and on every side a rich luxuriant growth cheers the eye of the traveller.