Along one bank of the Euphrates, the poor of Babylon come to wash. Here, the water has slowed enough to flow gently, providing a cool and inviting area to wash one's clothes and oneself. Makeshift steps have been carved into the banks to offer easier access to the water, and visitors often bring clay pots that store cleansing soaps and oils. The occasional palm tree, dotted along the water, offers sparse shade. Often, the air is punctuated with chatter as people gossip about their day, or the laughter of children who splash about in the water.