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'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. III. 1917' [216] (225/432)
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.
-
216
Miles from
Qasr-i-
Shirin
o
LAND EOUTES
Qasr-i-Shlriu. General direction to Merkez W. Leave
Qasr-i-Shlrln and strike across some low, gravelly un-
dulations by a well-defined track, in direction 258°
(W. by S.). Soil, light clay and gravel, growing thin
grass mostly burnt up in dry season. For 1 m. out of
town, barley and wheat crops (1888). Gradient ascends
gradually till a few pools and little streams are passed
in a ravine. Gradient now becomes steeper, ascending
low, rounded range of conglomerate hills. Broad, easy
track over ridge, which can be passed at any point.
Grass sometimes available in hollows,
Bounded summit of ridge, alt. 2,020 ft. (a rise of nearly
600 ft. from the start). Cross it skirting a dry, gravelly
ravine to r. Along the summit of the ridge runs the
Turco-Persian frontier, as settled in 1914. The NW. side
of ridge is cut up by several long ravines running towards
the Diyaleh. Begin easy descent along ridge of a spur ;
valley with dry water-course to 1. Wide view over
Diyaleh Valley, a gently undulating country intervening.
Short steep descent for 100 yds. from end of spur at
junction of two valleys. Valley to r. contains gravelly
bed of stream 150-200 yards wide; stream in valley to
1. nearly dry in l.w. season. Water disappears in this
gravelly soil, but could be found in wells or
Follow stream bank: easy going over gravel and pebbles.
Track in 1888 seemed to be hardly ever used. Stream
contains good clear water. Tall hedges on banks; no
trees in sight; some fields of Indian corn close by. Pass
round masonry tower, some 30 ft. high, on spur to r.
This in 1888 was a frontier mark (but see above). A
line of these towers runs about NNW. towards Diyaleh
(341°), and between SSW. and S. by W. (197°) towards
Khanikin. Pass through some low gravelly mounds,
and emerge into a fiat valley 1 m. wide. Well-defined
track over light, gravelly soil, well cultivated with good
wheat and barley, to
Merkez village, 80 well-built houses (1888). Alt. 1,045 ft.
Population Turkomans, speaking only Turkish. On
spur close by strong brick loopholed building, which in
1888 contained 50 zaptiehs. Water from a harez, from
which runs a clear stream 4 ft. wide, 6 in. deep. Soil
1
/
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