'Routes in Arabia' [‎48] (81/852)

48
Route No. 14— contd,
KUT-AL-AMARAH 73 m. | 283 m. Kut-al-Amarali is
285 miles from Basrah
following the winding
of the river, and 220 miles from Baghdad, It is on the east
bank, contains about 500 houses of settled Arabs and Lurs,
emigrated from Persia, with a row of better houses along the
river front. The barracks are a square building at the west
end. There is a telegraph office, connected by a short branch
line (2 wires) with the main line, which crosses a loop of the river
6 miles to the east. Occasionally there were Turkish soldiers
quartered here, used chiefly for overawing the Bani Lam Arabs,
who roam over the desert towards the Pusht-i-Kuh. There were,
however, no troops there in January, 1914.*
A small fringe of gardens, irrigated by lifts, or chard.?, from
the river, with a belt of country under barley and wheat, extends
on both banks. Kut is a thriving place, and a regular stopping-
place of steamers. The district and country along the Gharaf
stream produce fair quantities of grain.
A caravan route leads from here through Jassan and Badrah
to Mandali, and forms the outlet for the trade of those districts.
A difficult hill track leads by Zurbatieh and DehBala to Kir-
manshah.
A caravan route lies across the desert to Baghdad following
the general direction of the Tigris, and crossing the Diyalah
at the boat bridge, at its junction with the Tigris.
Occasional caravans come from Shushtar and Diz.ful along
the foot of the Pusht-i-Kuh ; but the Bani Lam Arabs have
made this route insecure.
The northern entrance of the Gharaf stream is opposite
Kut. It can be navigated by river steamers when the water is
high in spring.
The Tigris at Kut is 400 yards wide, and above it the banks
become higher.
BAGHAILAH .. 47 m. J 330 m. Pass Baghailah, a
settlement built in
1885, containing 100
houses on the west bank, and fairly thriving.
'AZIZIYAH .. 59 m. | 389 m. 'Aziilyah, 60 houses
on the east bank, with
a teleeraph office.
" ' Jixcept 18 infantry a. mi 20 cavalry.