'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' [‎20r] (44/312)

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BAGHDAD.
The population of Baghdad, in round numbers, may be taken as 100,000
of which nine-tenths are Musalmans of both the Sunni and Shia sects.
There are 2,000 Jewish families and 800 families of Christians of various
sects, as follows :—500 Papal Chaldean families, 200 families of Jacobite Chris
tians, and 50 to 100 families of Armenians. The town is built on both banks
of the river. The largest portion, containing the principal buildings, bazars,
&c., being on the left bank.
The bazars are arched over with brick to keep off the sun, and each trade
has a separate section set off for itself. The shops well supplied with all kinds of
articles—Manchester cotton goods and English stores. The bazars and sights
of Baghdad city have been frequently described. Messrs. Lynch Bros, and
Messrs. Darby, Andrews & Co. are the largest merchants of the place. Members
of these firms travel to Mosul or Busi’a, but never into Kurdistan or Luristan.
All their trade with Sulaimaniah and such places is done by native agents Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. .
There is a tramway to the Shrine of Kathimein on the left bank of the
river, running about four miles along the bank.
A plan of the town was made by Captain Jones in 1853, and since then
the old fortifications have been thrown down. Some portions, however, still
remain. At the south-west corner on the river bank, the Tabiyeh, Dabogiyeh,
and the wall up to the Bab-i-Shekki still remains intact, and are used as a
Zaptiyah Barrack.
The Tabiyeh, A1 Joueh, A1 Zowiyh, and Makam-es-Shaikh have been
completely removed, and the bricks even to the foundations carried away.
The ditch still remains, and is dry for the most part, with a few stagnant pools.
The covered way and glacis are a line of mounds of earth, giving a
command of 10 to 15 feet over the level of the desert to their front. With a
few alterations this could be made into an earth rampart and entrenchment.
The Tabiyeh A1 Halweh is in a semi-ruined condition, but the mound near it
gives a considerable command.
The tower at the Bab-el-Telism still remains standing, the gateway is
closed up, and converted into a magazine, on which is a small guard of Zapti-
yahs. The Tabiyeh-el-Titeran is thrown down.
The Bab-el-Wastani has its tower still remaining, and the road runs
through the old gate, although the walls on either side have been entirely
demolished. There is a customs post here.
The Tabiyeh A1 Fetha and Tabiyeh A1 Chaoukhave been removed, and the
rampart levelled.
There is a small magazine 300 yards behind the Tabiyeh A1 Chaouk. The
Tabiyeh-es-Sabunchiyeh is thrown down. The Bab-el-Mondhem and the
citadel are still standing, but the walls are much out of repair, and are falling
into decay. North of the citadel, on the river bank, is the Nejibiyeh Palace, a
fine-looking house, the residence of the Wali. On the glacis are several brick
fields, and the clay is suitable for making good bricks and tiles. The portion of
the town on the right bank is mostly inhabited by settled Arabs and Shiahs.
There are two telegraph lines from Baghdad to Fao. One, the original line,
Tele ra h tw ° wires > running to Hillah and Diwaniyeh on the
egiap . Euphrates, and from Diwaniyeh a single wire through
Samawa, Shaikh-ash-Shayukh to Korna. The newer line, a single wire, runs
also to Korna, but follows the left bank of the Tigris, through Azaziah,
VOL. i.
E