'Field notes: Mesopotamia. General Staff, India. February, 1917.' [‎76v] (159/350)

road approaches Gurmat 'Ali which stands in the angle between
the Shatt-al- ’Arab and the New Euphrates channel. East of
Gurmat Ali along the bank of the Shatt-al- Arab there is a line
of 12 brick kilns, 15 to 25 feet high. The road crosses the
New Euphrates at mile 4 by a bridge formed of tubular
pontoons; length of bridge 200 yards. The northern section
of the bridge can be swung open to allow boats to pass. Ihe
camping ground, consisting of two rectangular sites, one on
each side of the road, is reached at mile 4-1, 1 mile beyond the
bridge. Between the road and the Shatt-al-’Arab there is a
further line of brick kilns, where a large number of bricks are
available. Water good and plentiful from the Shatt-al-’Arab.
The best landing and watering-place is just south of the line
of brick kilns, but the approaches are difficult owing to mud.
2 NAHR UMR . . 121 .—General direction of
stage N.W. following
17 the bank of the Shatt-
al-’Arab, but keeping to the west of the cultivated area. The
road is heavy and difficult for wheeled traffic up to the Miyadiyah
canal, but beyond this it lies over desert and is good going.
After rain it becomes very heavy. It passes close to a few
mat-shed hamlets, but no supplies can be counted on. At
mile 11 the Miyadiyah canal is crossed by a trestle bridge, 180
feet long. At mile 2, as the floods rise, the water on the west
approaches to within a few yards of the road for about 1 mile,
and eventually renders it impassable. At mile 3, reach Limshan
mounds, standing about 10 feet above the plain. At mile
51 the road bears N.W. keeping further from the river. East
of this point and close to the river there is a high building,
affording a good observation station. At mile 8 a long mound r
standing 5 feet above the plain, is passed at 1 mile east of road..
At mile 11 the road again approaches the cultivated river
belt passes within \ mile of several brick kilns and bears W.
by N. to Nahr Umr camping ground. For a distance of about
1 mile up to Nahr Umr the ground is sandy and heavy.
The camping ground lies north of the road, between it and the
river, and about 300 yards downstream of 6 isolated date palms-
S.W. and W. of the camping ground, there are several mounds
standing about 10 feet above the plain. Water good and plenti
ful from the Shatt-al-’Arab to which the approaches are easy-