'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [‎29] (38/568)

BOUNDARIES AND PHYSICAL FEATURES
29
above Mohammareh. The Jerrahi has no outlet of any size on the
id | Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
The Hindlyan is formed by two streams from the highlands east
and east-south-east of Behbehan, which water part of the Behbehan
plain and unite some 22 miles N. of Bandar Dilam. It flows with
a deep and rapid course through the Zaidan plain and past Hindlyan
village, to reach the Gulf some 70 miles E. of the mouth of the Shatt
el-Arab. Its estuary lies among mud-flats, and is encumbered by
shoals. Only native craft of 20-30 tons use the river, navigating
up to Hindlyan village, a distance of some 32 miles by water.
Coast
This area touches the sea only on a narrow front at the head of
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Here the coast of the alluvial plains of Irak and
Arabistan, wedged in between the north-eastern corner of the Arabian
Desert and the south-western corner of the Persian plateau, extends
for about 130 miles from the mouth of the Khor Zobeir on the west
to a point between the mouth of the Hindlyan river and Bandar
Dilam on the east. This coast is low and marshy, liable to flood,
and fringed with flat mud-banks or islands, which have been formed
by silt brought down by the rivers. The openings in it are the river-
i mouths, obstructed by bars of mud, and three or four long inlets.
Beyond the western end of this coast-line the large alluvial island
of Bubayan masks the higher Arabian coast between the Khor
a Zobeir and the Bay of Koweit. It is at Koweit Bay that the Arabian
|t Desert first fronts the open Gulf. The northern side of the bay is
s, bordered by hills some 150-400 ft. high ; a gently undulating sandy
,i plain lies to the west and south.
g. Eastwards the coast of Arabistan is succeeded by a strip of low
alluvial land, a few miles wide, running SE. between the Gulf and
the foot-hills of the Persian plateau to Bushire.
^ Shallows and mud-banks make the coast of Irak and Arabistan
,i difficult to approach from the gulf. The bar at the mouth of the
I Shatt el-'Arab needs dredging to make it passable at all tides by
[j large ocean-going steamers. Between the Shatt el-'Arab and Bushire
jl there are no natural harbours for large vessels. West of the Shatt
el-'Arab the Khor Zobeir, which runs up into the desert towards
j, Basra, has fairly deep water within 20 or 25 miles of Basra, but its
^ approaches from land and sea, its configuration and dimensions,
appear to make it unsuitable for regular use as a harbour (see
j further Vol. II, Boute I C). The important harbour of Koweit is
( l 50-60 miles SW. of the mouth of the Shatt el-'Arab.
Desert, marsh, and inundation make the coast difficult of access
from the land side.