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'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. III. 1917' [183] (192/432)
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.
ROUTES 27, 28 a I8 3
Supplies of all kinds would be available in large quantities,
especially after the harvest, as the surrounding country is very
rich and well cultivated in the Baghdad districts. In the Persian
districts there is not such a large amount of cultivation, but still the
country traversed is fairly rich.
The grazing varies much from year to year, there being seldom
much except in the spring. Mules, donkeys, and horses using
this route are fed on barley and straw, which are always procurable.
In the spring camels graze on what they can find vvi voute* At other
seasons they are fed on barley-flour made into cakes, and straw.
Until Persian territory is reached, fuel is very scarce ; there it can
be obtained in any quantities from the mountains.
Water is good ancf plentiful throughout the route, generally being
obtained from streams or canals.
At Baghdad about 1,000 camels could be collected in a fortnight;
other animals ordinarily about 100 daily. Beyond Khanikin
no animals are obtainable until Kirmanshah is reached. Most 01
the mules and ponies used in this route come from Persia,
time were given very large numbers could be collected, as large
caravans are continually passing along this route. As far as Qasi-
i-Shlrln (m. 112)^ there are practically no obstacles, except for the
heavy state of the road after rain and the numerous irrigation
channels which have to be crossed. The boat-bridge over the
Diyaleh Kiver (m. 30^) might require to be improved. ^ When last
reported on (1907) it was only fit for the passage of light vehicles,
unhorsed and man-handled across, and was unfit for the passage of
guns or heavy vehicles. The river is fordable in the 1. w. season.
The pass over the Jebel Hamrln (beginning m. 64) is iiarrow but
passable for carts drawn by 4 horses abreast. At the Taq-i-Garra
Pass (m. 143) guns would have to be double-horsed in certain places.
In the stretch from Karind (m. 164-1) to Khorasabad (m. ^75^) the fiist
3 m. are stony and exceedingly rough, and the remainder of that
stretch along the valley is heavy and swampy after rain, and passes
over frequent streams. The Nal Shikan Pass (m. 190^) would have to
be improved to render it fit for the passage of guns.
T.L. accompanies the route on left hand. . c _ / * .
The general direction of the route to Khan Beni Said (m. 18) is
NNE. The road to that point is good and passable for all arms in
all weathers. Supplies, fuel, and forage scanty. Water from wells.
Miles from
Baghdad
0 Baghdad. Eoad leaves by North Gate, the Bab el-Wasitani.
The track across the plain to Baqiibeh is clearly marked.
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