contests were aggravated by the season: they took place during summer, when

the southern Asiatic wind came laden with intolerable heat, when the

streams were dried up in their shallow beds, and the vast basin of the sea

appeared to glow under the unmitigated rays of the solsticial sun. Nor did

night refresh the earth. Dew was denied; herbage and flowers there were

none; the very trees drooped; and summer assumed the blighted appearance of

winter, as it went forth in silence and flame to abridge the means of

sustenance to man. In vain did the eye strive to find the wreck of some

northern cloud in the stainless empyrean, which might bring hope of change

and moisture to the oppressive and windless atmosphere. All was serene,

burning, annihilating. We the besiegers were in the comparison little

affected by these evils. The woods around afforded us shade,--the river

secured to us a constant supply of water; nay, detachments were employed in

furnishing the army with ice, which had been laid up on Haemus, and Athos,

and the mountains of Macedonia, while cooling fruits and wholesome food

renovated the strength of the labourers, and made us bear with less

impatience the weight of the unrefreshing air. But in the city things wore

a different face. The sun's rays were refracted from the pavement and

buildings--the stoppage of the public fountains--the bad quality of the

food, and scarcity even of that, produced a state of suffering, which was

aggravated by the scourge of disease; while the garrison arrogated every

superfluity to themselves, adding by waste and riot to the necessary evils

of the time. Still they would not capitulate.

Suddenly the system of warfare was changed. We experienced no more

assaults; and by night and day we continued our labours unimpeded. Stranger

248

The Last Man