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'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [‎290] (299/568)

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'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918'
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Ref: IOR/L/MIL/17/15/41/2

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. .

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COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT
where, chiefly for the latter purpose. Large sometimes
have a quffeh as & dinghy. . , i au - h
The quffeh is circular in shape and made of wicker-work thickly
coated with bitumen. Quffehs are generally 4-5 ft. in diametei^ but
some are only 3 ft. 8 in. across, others as much as 10 tt. Iheir
depth varies from 2| to 3i ft. A normal-sized will carry
4- 5 passengers, but a very large one will hold 20 persons or one
camel and several passengers. The is usually paddled by two
men. It is not handy to work upstream.
River Transport Arahistan
(a) Steamers. . L J , ^
The Karun between Mohammareh and Nazirl was navigated beiore
the war by the following steamers : , , .. ni
Malamir, Messrs. Lynch & Co., 3 ft. 10 in. draught, HO tons
capacity, taking 600 passengers, besides 6 first-class, and capable ot
towing 2 barges of 50-70 tons. Usual times, 36 hours up (with halts),
and 14 hours down. . , ,
Nasrat, Naziri Company (Mu'in ut-Tujjar), 3 ft. 4 in. draught,
65 tons capacity, taking 200 passengers, besides _ 4 first-class, and
capable of towing 2 barges of 50 tons. Usual times, 36 hours up
(with halts), and 14 hours down.
On the Karun between Ahwaz and Shaleili there were the following
stc minors i
Shushan, Persian Government, worked by Messrs. Lynch & Co.,
2 ft. 6 in. draught, 50 tons capacity, capable of towing 1 barge of
40 tons. Usual times, 36 hours up and 12 hours down.
Muavin (?), Naziri Company (Mu'in ut-Tujjar), 2 ft. 6 in. draught,
20 tons capacity, taking 150 passengers, and capable of towmg
1 barge of 40 tons.
It was reported in 1916 that ' when the Anglo-Persian Oil Com
pany's stern-wheeler Aminiyeh is above the rapids with barges she
can tow two 80-ton barges to Dar-i-Kazineh in 24 hours'.
(6) Native Craft. . I
Saflnehs {maheilehs) and heUams are used for transport on the
Karun. Bellams are used on the canals of the Fellahlyeh district,
and mashhufs on the marshes of the Karkeh. On these types ot
craft see above, pp. 288-9.
Paver Transport in
(a) Steamers and Motor -vessels.
Before the war there was no regular service of steamers on the
middle Tigris and Euphrates, though experiments had been made.

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
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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