Macina

MACINA (Μακινή), a district of Arabia, mentioned only by Strabo (16. p. 766) as nearest to Babylonia, bounded on the one side by the desert of Arabia, on another by the marshes of the Chaldaeans, formed by the overflowing of the Euphrates, and on a third by the Persian Gulf. Its climate was heavy and foggy, showery and ,hot, but producing excellent fruit. The cultivation of the vine was peculiar. They were planted in the marshes, the soil necessary for their sustenance being placed in wicker baskets. They would sometimes drift from their moorings, and were thrust back to their places with poles.