THE   CITY   OF   NINEVEH
for weary eyes. When the grass is about a foot in
height, all the inhabitants pitch tents outside the
town and spend their days there. Those who have
horses tether them in front of their tents, and allow
them to eat grass to their hearts' content. A friend
lent us a tent last year, and for a month or six weeks
we enjoyed the luxury of green scenery! Every day
some of our congregation were able to get out, each
of us taking our turn at providing afternoon tea. It
was such a relief to get away from the heat of the
city walls, and to enjoy, if only for a short time, the
lovely fresh air of the corn-fields !
The autumn days are very pleasant too, but as a
rule this season is only too short. The summers last
till the rains begin, and then almost at once cold
weather sets in. The most trying part of the whole
year comes towards the end of summer, when the
clouds " come up." It is very marvellous the way
the natives can tell, almost to a day, when to expect
the first clouds. They generally last from ten to
twelve days, and the relief is great when they depart.
On the whole the climate of Mosul seems to be a
healthy one. At certain times of the year malarial
fever is very prevalent, but, " alhamdllillah ! " neither
of us have ever contracted it.
The highest degree of heat registered in the
coolest part of our house is 110°, but the average
heat of the three hottest months is about 98° to 105°.
Three to four, months of this kind of heat is
generally quite enough!
The land round Mosul is cultivated to a great
extent, corn being the chief product. The success of
the crops, however, is entirely dependent upon the
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