‘Memorandum respecting the frontier between Mohammerah and Turkey.’ [‎36r] (71/82)

61
The province of Nejd is the high plateau of Central
Arabia, distant some 500 miles at its nearest point from
Bussorah, and tlie name is never applied to the valley of
the Euphrates,
It would appear from this that Persia claims the left
bank of the Shat and the Tigris as her boundary from
the sea to near Bagdad, but I know not the grounds upon
which the claim depends. At present she docs not possess
any territory on the river above Moliammernli. Girdelan
was certainly built by Persian colonists about 100 years
ago and continued with the adjoining villa2 ;es subject to
Howoizeh for some years after Nadir Shah's lurkish
conquests; but the lands watered by the Shat from Girde
lan to the sea are, nevertheless, registered in the Bussorah
records as dependencies of that city from the earliest period
to which such documents ascend, and all the ancient
geographical notices confirm this territorial allotment.
The village of Sadireh is on the Jerrahi about 40 miles
above Fellahiah; the extreme Chaab possession, however,
on this river is Khalafabad, 15 miles above Sadireh. The
country is thinly inhabited from Khalafabad to Old Doorak,
but between that point and Fellahiah the cultivation,
watered by canals from the Jerrahi, continue in an un
interrupted line and may be increased to any desired extent.
The direction of the Jerrahi from Ram Hormuz to
Fellahiah is south westerly, and from that point to the sea
the Nahr-i-Busi runs due south.
Bunder Maashar is on the sea near the mouth of the
Nahr-i-Busi; it is distant about 30 miles from Fellahiah
and nearly 70 miles from Sadireh by the river.
H. RAWLINSON, Consul at Bagdad.
been destroyed, would have become very cele-
brated. The whole country to the west of the
Shatt-el-Arab from the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to Girdelan
opposite to Bussorah, is included in the territory
of Nejd ; but Girdelan is to the east of the river,
where the country, for a space of 80 farsangs,
belongs to the province of Fars. Throughout all
this tract the date palm flourishes, the groves in
many places stretching for a space of 8 farsangs,
in others being limited to 3 farsangs. Besides
dates the country also, which belongs exclusively
to Sheikh Thamir Khan, produces oranges, citrons,
figs, grapes, pomegranates, plums, peaches, &c.
The Keab tribes of Edres and Ansar occupy
the gardens on the banks of the Shatt-el-Arab.
the eastern shores of which are held to be an
integral part of the territory of Fars. There are
forty-six forts which acknowledge the rule of the
Keab Arabs.
The houses which are built within these forts
and around them are constructed of earth, of
bricks, and of the wood of the date tree ; the
buildings and edifices which surround the gardens
are inhabited by the Keab subjects who are
employed in gathering in the fruit. As for the
rice and corn, of which the produce is very con
siderable, the sheikh enjoys the entire revenues.
The village of Sadireh, which is situated at the
distance of 8 farsangs from Fellahiah, is one of the
dependencies of the Sheikh, it may be reached
either by land or by water.
Agents are maintained there by the chiefs to
superintend the cultivation of the wheat and
barlev. The families occupied in husbandry amount
to about 200.
The water for irrigation comes from the Jerrahi
which runs easterly " vers I'orient" towards
Fellahieh. Mnashar occurs at the distance ot
4 farsangs from Sadireh.
[2440 c—10]