"Now when they came to the beautiful streams of the river, where were the washing tanks that never failed—for abundant clear water welled up from beneath. and flowed over, to cleanse garments however soiled—there they loosed the mules from under the waggon and drove them along the eddying river to graze on the honey-sweet water-grass, and themselves took in their arms the raiment from the waggon, and bore it into the dark water, and trampled it in the trenches, busily vying each with each. Now when they had washed the garments, and had cleansed them of all the stains, they spread them out in rows on the shore of the sea where the waves dashing against the land washed the pebbles cleanest; and they, after they had bathed and anointed themselves richly with oil, took their meal on the river’s banks, and waited for the clothing to dry in the bright sunshine."