During the time of the inundation, the water in the river is very thick but as much pure water as served us for drinking, was procured from some private wells in the town, which I suppose had a communication with the river, which had the effect of filtering the water. Footnote 17: Matthew xxvi. 23. Footnote 18: I saw the buffaloes at this employment, when I sailed up the river, on the 24th June, when coming to Rosetta. The buffalo is much larger than the ox; his bones are uncommonly large, even in comparison to the size of his body, which is very lean; his strength must be much greater than that of the ox. When he walks, he carries his head like the camel, his nose being nearly as high as his horns, and is on the whole a very dull looking animal; but, notwithstanding, he is capable of being trained to this work, as well, if not better, than the ox, for I saw them keeping a slow but steady pace at their work, without the immediate presence of a driver. The water is raised by a wheel, upon which buckets or earthen pitchers are fastened. Since the publication of the first edition, I have seen the 5th vol. of Dr. Clarke's Travels in Egypt; and as his knowledge is more extensive than mine, I take the liberty of inserting an extract, upon the produce and manner of cultivating the Delta. Speaking of the method of watering the ground, he says, "The land thus watered, produces three crops in each year; the first of clover, the second of corn, and the third of rice. The rice grounds are inundated, from the time of sowing nearly to harvest. The seed is commonly cast upon the water, a practice twice alluded to in sacred Scripture. _Balaam_ prophesied of _Israel_, Numb. xxiv. 7, that 'his seed should be in many waters.' In the directions given for charity, by the son of _David_, it is written, Eccles. xi. 1. 'Cast thy bread (_i. e._ bread corn) upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.' When the rice plants are about two feet high they are transplanted."--Vol. v. pp. 47, 48. Footnote 19: The grain was measured by an Arab into baskets, which were carried to the heap by others, upon their shoulders. The measurer accompanied his work with a song indicative of the quantity he put into each basket. The owner stood upon the quay and received a bean or pea from the carriers as they passed by him to the heap; and this was the method by which he kept an account of the quantity landed. Footnote 20: