'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [‎285] (294/568)

COMMUNICATIONS AND TEANSPOET
285
The passing of upward and downward-bound vessels might cause
difficulty owing to the sharp bends and the high banks which
restrict the range of vision. Current 3 m.p.h. in the lower reaches,
gradually increasing to 4 m.p.h.
Principal Waterways Arabistan
(a) The Karun.
(i) From Mohammareh to Nazin.
The Karun up to the Ahwaz-Naziri rapids is generally navigable
for vessels of 5-6 ft. draught, but in low water vessels drawing only
3-| ft. may have difficulty at places within 20 miles of Nazirl. Width
about 300 yds. Current 5-7 m.p.h. in a high river, and about
2-2| m.p.h. in low water.
The Nazirl rapids are passable by towing, but even native boats
find great difficulty here in a low or very high river. The rapids
have twice been ascended by craft under steam. Usually cargoes
are landed below the rapids at Nazirl and transported to Ahwaz at
their upper end.
(ii) FromAlavds to Shaleili.
From Ahwaz shallow-draught steamers can navigate the Karun to
Shaleili on the Ab-i-Gargar branch of the river, about 70 miles above
Ahwaz and 7-| miles below Shushtar. Dar-i-Khazineh, where are
the A.P.O. Co.'s sheds, and from which a cart-road leads to Maidan-
i-Naftun, is 4-5 miles below Shaleili.
It is reported that a little blasting would open up the channel at
Shushtar.
(h)The Bahman Shir.
The Bahman Shir mouth of the Karun is navigable for about
30 miles from the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. by vessels drawing 7 ft., but in the
uppermost 14-15 miles it is very shallow, the channel being ob
structed by mud-flats. Native sea-going boats cannot pass the shoals
of the upper Bahman Shir without waiting for the tide, which here
makes a difference of about 9 ft.
(c) The Ab-i-Diz.
The Ab-i-Diz was ascended in August 1892 by a stern-wheeler
drawing 2| ft. as far as Umm el-Wawlyeh 20 miles from Dizful.
But a recent report states that, while the Diz is navigable by country
boats 'for some little distance' above its junction with the Karun,
even in the flood season of 1916 boats failed to get within 25 miles
of Shush (i. e. perhaps about 40 miles of Dizful).