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'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. III. 1917' [371] (380/432)
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
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EOWANDUZ—SALAHIYEH—SAMAKEA
371
Kufri Su east of the town, is abundant and good. There is very-
good grazing in the neighbourhood of the town. Fuel is plentiful.
In normal times it was estimated that 400 horses and 300 mules
might be obtained here.
The Nasaleh coal workings lie in the low hills E. of the town,
the nearest being about | hour from the town: the newest workings
apparently lie at a distance of 1 or 2 m. The coal obtained before
the war was of poor quality, but possibly a better quality has since
been found in deeper workings. It is said that three workmen can
excavate about 30 cwt. or 20 donkey-loads daily, and the coal is
sold in Salahiyeh at 7^ Kaij Piastres per donkey-load (3|d. a cwt.).
During the war coal has been exported by camel to Sindiyeh
III D, m. 45^), and thence floated down the Tigris, and a Decauville
railway has been reported.
Inhabitants. —The inhabitants are mostly Kurds, though there are
a few Arabs and Jews. The town lies in the country of the Jaf
Kurds, whose power has recently been much reduced by the Turkish
Government, though they are still a considerable tribe. They inhabit
both sides of the frontier and live a semi-nomadic life, moving
between the hills and the plains. The Turkish Jaf claim that, though
they are the less numerous section, they number 3,000 mounted
men: this is probably an exaggeration.
In the country towards Khanikin live the Bajalan Kurds (150
riders) and the Zengabad Kurds (270 riders). The Hamawand Kurds
at least as late as 1910 were a serious danger on the roads in the
neighbourhood, and in spite of measures taken against them in recent
years may possibly still cause trouble.
Administration. —The Turkish Government is represented here by
a Kaimmakam, and there was before the war a post of infantry
mounted on mules.
SAM ARB. A, on the 1. bank of the Tigris, 89f m. above Baghdad
by river. Pop. 2,000 (?). T.L. to Baghdad. Bridge of boats (32-55,
according to width of river). In Oct. 1903 (1. w.), when river
was 370 yds. wide, only 270 yards were spanned by 32 boats: on
k a nk it was necessary after leaving bridge to cross some shallow
water for about 80 yds. to a sandbank, from which the river bank
i C qao \ be reaclled - Roadway across bridge 12 ft. wide. Eeported
i • i un ^ ^ or wheeled traffic. The Baghdad Kailway has been
laid as far as Samarra (see Appendix).
River Routes —See Boutes III D, E.
a a 2
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