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'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. III. 1917' [182] (191/432)
The record is made up of 1 volume (214 folios). It was created in 1917. It was written in English. 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.
182
LAND ROUTES
Miles from
Qarah
Sher-
g-liat
67
Altun Koprii. (The time taken between Derban and
Altun Kopru is variously given by the same authority
as Bhhrs. and 5 hrs.)
ROUTE 28 a
BAGHDAD—KIRMANSHAH (222 m.)
Via K hanikin
Authorities :—Routes in Persia, vol. iii, 96 (1910) ; Corrections to vol, in 1914 •
Koute Report of 1909. ' '
This is the main caravan and trade route between Mesopotamia
and Persia. It is passable for wheels in dry weather, but in wet
weather, unless the season is exceptionally mild, the road becomes
very heavy and in places a quagmire. In the years immediately
preceding the war there was a motor-car service between Baghdad
and Baqubeh. The complete journey is performed in 20 days by
camels, and in 14 days by horses and mules. Mules, ponies, and
donkeys are the usual transport animals, camels being used only in
the summer and not after the rains have set in.
As far as Khanikin, on the Persian border, the road lies over rich
alluvial soil which in many places is subject to inundation. After
1 in. of rain the whole country becomes so boggy as to be almost
impassable. From November to April the road is impassable for
camels owing to the rain and snow. A Persian company was
formed in 1905 to put and keep the road in repair. A few years
before the war it was reported to be in fairly good order and quite
passable for wheeled traffic, though very rough in places, especially
bey ond Khanikin. The range of low hills over which the road passes to
Khanikin would offer no obstacle to the construction of a railway.
In January and February the cold is considerable and water often
freezes. During July, August, and September the heat is intense
during the day, but very hot nights are unusual at any time, and in
June there is generally a refreshing north breeze. The annual rain
fall is about 7 in. and falls in the cold weather. Between Baghdad
and Khanikin the rainy season may be said to commence about
November and to end in March. Beyond Khanikin the rain starts
somewhat earlier, and ends later. Snow falls in the region between
Ser-i-Pul and Kirmanshah.
About this item
- Content
This volume is A Handbook of Mesopotamia, Volume III, Central Mesopotamia with Sourthern Kurdistan and the Syrian Desert (Admiralty War Staff Intelligence Division, January, 1917), covering the Tigris and Euphrates from Baghdad and Fellūjeh [Fallujah] to Mosul and Meskeneh [Maskanah], the Lesser Zāb, the country east of the Tigris towards the Persian frontier, and the routes running westward from the Euphrates valley across the Syrian Desert. The volume was prepared on behalf of the Admiralty and War Office, and appears to be based on official and unofficial publications and maps which are cited in a bibliographical section in the volume. This volume was supplemented with corrections and additions in June 1918 (see IOR/L/MIL/17/15/41/5).
The volume includes a note on confidentiality, a title page, 'Note', 'Abbreviations'. There is a page of 'Contents' which includes the following sections:
- Introduction;
- River Routes (The Tigris and the Lesser Zāb, The Euphrates);
- Land Routes (The Tigris Valley with Region to East, The Euphrates Valley, Connexions between Tigris and Euphrates Valleys, The Syrian Desert);
- Gazetteer of Towns;
- Bibliographical Note;
- Transliteration of Names;
- Glossary;
- Appendix;
- Index;
- 'Sketch Map of Routes', which includes 'City Map of Baghdad' (f. 212) and 'Mesopotamia: Outline Map Showing Routes, Volume III' contained in a pocket.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (214 folios)
- Arrangement
This volume is arranged according to numbered routes. There is a page of contents and an alphabetical index. There are two maps housed in a pocket.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover and terminates at the inside back cover; 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'. side of each folio (except for the front cover, where the folio number is located on the verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. ).
Pagination: The volume also has an original printed pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/15/41/4
- Title
- 'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. III. 1917'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1:422, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence