'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. II' [‎1146] (195/688)

MAJAE-AL-KABlR
A few miles above this place on the same bank is Majar-as-Sagh'rr, a similar village of
about half the size, situated in the domains of the Dairat-as-Sanlyah and formerly the
seat of a Mudir. # . , ,r .
There are two canals, the larger of which is of some size, called respectively Majar -al-
Kabir and Majar -as-Saghir, in the neighbourhood of these two villages; they join up
with the Hammar Lake a little to the east of the point where the Shatt-al-Bada ah
reaches it, but they have not yet been surveyed and their courses are not clearly under-
stood. The following article contains most of what is known about these waterways.
The whole canal was formerly the property of the Turkish Government.
As is the case with all the big streams flowing out of the Tigris, the Majar Kabir has
built up for itself by the gradual deposit of silt a central plateau along which its waters
and those of its subsidiary streams run. This central plateau is commanded by its
waters only at the time of the full flood during the hot season, and in the cold weather is
always dry. Each of the subsidiary streams flows down into low land at its tail known as
i5aza }iz or Danaib, which is always wet. Thus round every channel is a gradation of
slopes, the highest being fitted for barley and wheat (which is very little grown), the
lower land being fitted for millet after the greatest heights of the floods have subsided,
and the lowest land of all fitted for rice. The rice land itself may again be sub-divided
into two classes : the higher land well commanded by water throughout the rice season,
but not always under water ; and the lower land which is always under a certain amount
of water. In the higher rice-land the rice is cultivated broad-cast and is called Afli
or Harfi. In the lower rice-land in which there are always 2 or 3 inches of water, the rice
is transplanted and is called ShittaL Beyond the strip in which the Shittal rice is sown, is
everywhere the unreclaimed Hor or swamp full of reeds.
The main stream of the Majar Kabir reaches from its mouth about half way between
Qala'at Salih and 'Amarah down to the markaz or official headquarters, a distance by
river of about 16 miles. In May, 1915, it was a channel through a Hor—the Hor being 5 or
6 feet deep. Below the headquarters and town of Majar Kabir it branches, the western
branch being known as the Adal, and the south-eastern as the Wadiyah. The Adal again
branches some way lower down into three big streams, the Jindala, the Adal and the
Tafshah. The Majar Kabir runs almost parallel to the main Tigris river, so that the town
itself is only about 5 miles from the bank of the Tigris, and the tail end of the Wadiyah,
or south-eastern branch, almost coincides vith the tail end of the Hafirah canal,
which takes out from the Tigris opposite Qala'at Salih. On the other hand the Jindala
or westernmost branch of the Majar Kab'r sweeps round until the tail coincides with that
of the Tabar or Majar Sagh'r, the mouth of which is not far below 'Amarah, and with that
of the Bitairah, the mouth of which is above 'Amarah. The Majar-as-Saghir, is free
from weeds and deep enough to take a boat of 5 or 6 feet draft.
The Majar-al-Kab"r is a good waterway from its head above Abu Sidrah to a little
below Majld-al-Khallfah's village, which is given as 13 miles by road from Qala'at Salih.
Its danaibs are, however, useless as waterways for anything but mashhUfs and light
bellums as there are several branches and no depth of water. The largest danaib is the
Adil which is about 8 miles in length before it loses itself in the Hor. The Majar-al-
Kabir is 4 hours' journey by mashhvf from the Tigris to Majid's village and 2 hours on to
the place where it bifurcates.
Some authorities say that the Jindalah forms dhanaib of the Majar-as-Saghir.
1. The Abu Judeiah canal, with its bazayiz of Charba.
2. The Hashariyah.
3. The Ae'mi Canal, which sweeps round to the south until its tail-ends or bazayiz
touch those of the Adal much lower down.
4. The Khar, a short canal with its rice lands not far ofi the main stream.
5. The Lao'lah.
6. The Adal.
7. The Jindalah.
8. The Tafshah.
The most valuable of these above the Adal appears to be the Hashariyah. The
Ae mi has recently silted up, and its rice lands are at present uncultivated. On the left
eide coming from the Tigris there are few important streams until a short way above the
town of Majar Kabir itself, when tho Abu Hantah is met. Below the headquarters is the