'Reconnaissances in Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, North-West Persia, and Luristan from April to October 1888. By Lt F R Maunsell, Intelligence Branch. In Two Volumes. Volume I: narrative report, description of larger towns and routes leading from them. Simla: Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General's Dept, 1890' [‎12v] (29/312)

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When carrying 1 a full cargo in a high river, they draw 4 feet of water, and
c<r o can carry 400 tons. In the low season they are loaded
according to the state of the river at the time, and
generally draw 3' 6' / to 3' 8".
The average passage down stream from Baghdad to Basra is 44- hours, and
76 hours from Busra to Baghdad. The length of time taken varies a good
deal in the low season according to the state of the river, and the steamers
have then to lie up for the night, as some reaches cannot be navigated in the
dark. In the flood season they travel day and night.
Six hundred to seven hundred native passengers can be carried besides the
cargo, and they would accommodate a regiment at each trip. Lighters would
be available then to be towed astern. There are six first class cabins and a small
saloon.
They can steam 10 knots an hour, but the average speed against a knot
<5 stream is 6 knots.
1 " The crews of these vessels are exclusively Chaldean
Christians from Talkaif near Mosul.
The Medjidieh is 4 feet broader than the Khalifa, but draws the same
amount of water, so that she has the greatest carrying capacity of the three.
Ihe Blosse Lynch has not quite as good cargo capacity, and draws slightly
more water than the others, but she is the best passenger vessel.
There is, however, very little comparison to be drawn between any of them.
They were brought to Busra in pieces from England, and put together in
the dock there. * > r &
Besides steamers, there are three large iron lighters, belonging to the
Lighters same Company, kept moored off the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. at
° ‘ Basra.
They were originally intended to be towed to Baghdad with cargo by
the steamers, but the Company were prohibited from doing this by the Turkish
authorities. fhey are now used as coal hulks or depots for cargo requirin 0 *
transhipment from the ocean to the river steamers.
I hey have a capacity of about 130 tons each, and draw the same depth of
water when loaded as the steamers.
They are fitted with steering gear and a long rudder suitable for navigat
ing up the stream.
Since the opening of the Karun river to general navigation, Messrs.
Lynch have employed the Blosse Lynch there.
Shaikh Mizal’s Steamer.—Shaikh Mizal Khan, Governor of Muhammerah,
has also a steamer, which he uses now for navigating the Karun as far as Ahwaz.
She is not used for purposes of trade, but rather as a private yacht for him to
move about in. She is loopholed for musketry defence, and two bronze guns
are placed on board when he proposes to chastise any unruly subjects up the
river. She was built in England at a cost of £4,500 in 1873.
She is 112 feet long and 25 feet beam, designed when carryino* her full
complement of cargo to draw 4 feet of water, but in her present condition draw-
ln g.~ icet 6 inches to 3 feet only. She can carry 200 tons of cargo.
Ihe bulwarks are 3 feet 6 inches high, and contain 30 circular loopholes
on each side. Ihere are two bow gun ports. The |th inch plating forming
^ e ™ lk . 1S backed with 3 inch of wood, and would keep out musketry
16 mi 11016 18 an ^ eck extending over the stern portion of the vessel,
i u le - n 7 aS recentl .y blown up by a powder explosion, and has been rebuilt
oca y in ie form of a divan or reception room. She experiences no difficulty
m ascending the Karun at any season of the year.