"تقرير عسكري عن العراق. المنطقة ٢ (أعلى الفرات)" [ظ‎‎١‎٧] (١٤٠/٣٩)

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(iv) To Anah via left bank (192 miles). Passable for pack.
(v) To Harran (64 miles). Passable for pack.
(vi) To Hama via Rusafet (144 miles). Passable for pack,
(vii) By river to Baghdad. Passable for shallow draft vessels.
Connected with Aleppo by telegraph.
Inhabitants. —The population is approximately 2,000
Muhammadans, composed of Arabs and Circassians.
Camping Grounds. —Unlimited on either bank of river.
Administration. —Raqqa is the headquarters of a Qadha and
seat of Qaimmaqam.
CHAPTER ITT.
Climate.
General Conditions.—between Raqqa and Fallujah the
climatic conditions are those of a sub-tropical area which lies at
a distance from any ocean ; they are, therefore, of a semi-arid
type, although an appreciable amount of rain falls in the winter
months. The area lies so to say in the shadow of the high
plateau to the north and west, and thus the summer tempera
ture is not so unbearable as it is in Lower Mesopotamia. There
is, however, considerable variation in the temperature
experienced at Raqqa and Fallujah.
In the winter the winds are variable, but blow generally from
the north-west. In summer there is a continuous current of air
from the north-west owing to pressure in the Eastern Mediter
ranean being considerably higher than that in the Persian Gulf
during these months.
This north-west wind descends from the plateau upon the
Jazirah as a dry scorching blast from a furnace. It frequently
bears a cloud of dust with it. Thus the relativ.e humidity of
the atmosphere is extremely low, and even in the wet season
rain is not very abundant.
Rainfall. —For agricultural purposes the rainfall is quite
insufficient and irrigation is an absolute necessity. For
grazing purposes the rain produces a desert crop capable of
supporting the thousands of camels and sheep of the Badawin
Arabs.
^ The first rain may sometimes arrive in October, but usually
November is the first month in which heavy rain falls. The
rainy season continues until April or early May, after which
no further rain occurs until the following October,