'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. II. 1917' [‎450] (461/542)

450
APPENDIX B
level of that river, and southwards from Mansuriyeh past Baghdad
to the Diyaleh junction there runs a depression which can be flooded
from the Tigris. Down to a point perhaps some 8 or 9 m. NE. of
Baghdad, this depression is bounded on the E. by higher ground
which is not liable to flood from the Tigris. But the whole country
S. of Sindiyeh between the Tigris and the Diyaleh is commanded by
the Diyaleh's flood levels, and is irrigated chiefly by a net-work of
canals from that river. The angle between the last reaches of the
Diyaleh and the Tigris S. of Mo'adhdham is low ground commanded
by both rivers.
The Tigris from Mansuriyeh downwards is fairly well bunded on
its 1. bank, though spills occur at certain points, e. g. at Yehudiyeh.
Baghdad, with the riverside land to N. and S. of it from Mo'adhdham
down to Qarareh, is now protected by a long earth embankment,
within which are smaller bunds. The protective works on the
Diyaleh are much less considerable. In normal years the low-lying
ground NE., E., and SE. of Baghdad is inundated chiefly from the
Diyaleh, owing to the greater care bestowed on the Tigris
The Diyaleh in flood-time carries a very considerable volume of water
down to the Tigris, though nearly all its supply is taken for irriga
tion above Baqubeh. (In order to divert the Diyaleh water into the
Khalis Canal for purposes of irrigation, a dam is made every year
across the Diyaleh near the head of the Khalis.) If the
protecting Baghdad East are broken, as well as those on the Tigris
and the Diyaleh, the greater part of the city E. of the river might
be flooded, only a narrow strip along the bank being left dry. This,
however, would be abnormal (it happened in November-December,
1914). If the city is flooded the water would come from the land
ward side, the river-fronts in Baghdad itself being too high and solid
to allow of a spill through them.
It is clear that in flood-time practically all the country E. of the
Tigris from Sindiyeh down to the Diyaleh junction could be inun
dated from the Diyaleh, or from the Tigris, or from both rivers,
if their banks and bunds were broken.
From Diyaleh
On this section of its course the river is very winding, so that
while the distance by road from Diyaleh to Kut is 103 m., the
distance by river is about 184 m. The width of the stream is about
400 yds. on an average. The velocity of the current is generally
3-|-4i| m.p.h, in flood, and about 1-1^ m.p.h. in low water. The
depth is about 26 ft. in flood, but in low supply there are some