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'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [279] (288/568)
The record is made up of 1 volume (282 folios). It was created in 1918. It was written in English, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Armenian, Kurdish and Syriac. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
COMMUNICATIONS AND TKANSPOKT 279
Mules are used as pack-animals in the hills, and are employed
especially in the more mountainous country, where the roads are too
difficult for horses. In the plains they are used mainly in drawing
carriages and for military purposes.
The pack-mule will usually carry a load of about 300 lb., and
mule-caravans can move at about 3^-4 miles an hour under favour
able circumstances, 20-25 miles being a fair day's march.
See further pp. 185-6.
(The circumstances mentioned above as affecting the carrying
capacity of the camel also make a considerable difference to ponies
and mules.)
Donkeys are used as transport-animals everywhere, and especially
for local, short-distance traffic. They will carry loads of 120-150 lb.,
and can generally do about 3 miles an hour.
See further p. 186.
Bullocks are employed in some districts of upper Mesopotamia on
specially heavy draught work, and for carting agricultural produce, &c.
Khans
Khans (caravanserais) are found in towns, in some of the larger
villages, and at halting-places on some of the main routes. They
are quadrangular enclosures containing a courtyard in which beasts
are tethered. Bound this courtyard, in the inside of the outer wall,
are alcoves .which are used as rooms and sometimes as stables. In
the larger Jchans there is an upper story with rooms for travellers.
There is usually a well either in or close to the Beasts are
watered either from this, or, where possible, from a neighbouring
stream or canal. Fodder can generally be obtained at a being
purchased either from the Tchanji or from sellers who bring it to the
hostel. In the same way fuel is often brought to the for sale,
and occasionally vegetables, &c. But supplies usually, and some
times fuel and fodder, have to be purchased in the bazaar.
Khans are generally dirty and insanitary.
Charges are trifling. There is a fixed charge for beasts, but for
their personal accommodation travellers pay as they choose. Some
Khans in Mesopotamia are endowed by pious founders and provide
Moslem pilgrims with free accommodation, but most are privately
owned or leased by the Government.
About this item
- Content
This volume is A Handbook of Mesopotamia, Volume I, General (Naval Staff, Intelligence Department: November 1918). This is an updated and expanded edition of A Handbook of Mesopotamia, Volume I, General (Admiralty War Staff, Intelligence Department: August 1916) (IOR/L/MIL17/15/41/1). This is an introductory volume containing matter of a general nature giving an account of conditions in Mesopotamia, for the most part as they were before the First World War.
The volume includes a note on official use, a title page and 'Note'. There is a page of 'Contents' that includes the following chapters and sections:
- Chapter 1: Boundaries and Physical Features;
- Chapter 2: Climate;
- Chapter 3: Minerals;
- Chapter 4: Fauna and Flora;
- Chapter 5: Hygiene;
- Chapter 6: History;
- Chapter 7: Inhabitants;
- Chapter 8: Religions;
- Chapter 9: Administration;
- Chapter 10: Irrigation of Irak [Iraq];
- Chapter 11: Agriculture and Land Tenure;
- Chapter 12: Commerce and Industry;
- Chapter 13: Currency, Weights, and Measures;
- Chapter 14: Communications and Transport;
- Vocabularies;
- Index.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (282 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is arranged in numbered chapters. There is a contents page and an alphabetically arranged index.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the first folio and terminates at the last folio; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of the folio.
Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Armenian, Kurdish and Syriac in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/15/41/2
- Title
- 'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1:556, ii-r:ii-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence