It is traversed in places by rocky ridges of a low elevation, and intercepted by occasional _wadys_, but otherwise it is a continuous gravelly or sandy plain, incapable of sustaining a settled population.
Between the desert and the river intervenes commonly a narrow strip of fertile territory, which in Assyrian times was held by the Tsukhi or Shuhites, and the Aramaeans or Syrians.

North of the 36th parallel, the general elevation of the country west of the Euphrates rises.

There is an alternation of bare undulating hills and dry plains, producing wormwood and other aromatic plants.

Permanent rivers are found, which either terminate in salt lakes or run into the Euphrates.

In places the land is tolerably fertile, and produces good crops of grain, besides mulberries, pears, figs, pomegranates, olives, vines, and pistachio-nuts.