'Routes in Arabia' [‎703] (734/852)

703
Route No. 197— contd.
thoueh heavy going from 18 miles to 19^- miles across the
Sawaikiyah ma.-sh. fa 5 pri„ S the road is said to be covered
with water for 8 miles, varying in depth from 1| f ® et ^ 3 '
The water is said to be fresh and drinkable. In October 180 7
there was no water on the track between the Tigris river and
Tassan but it was evident from the unpleasant smell that the
was w^r close by on the western side of the track between
the 18th and B 1 ^^ S - " ^ xs m . General direction
- north-north-west. Good
' road over level plain.
Ul mile leave the edge of the .Tassan date gardens. Five
miles to the north -west on the plain is a smal tomb snrrouuded
w ft natch of date trees called Imam -Shaikh-Sulaiman. At
about 7 mts pass an irrigation stream ; water plentiful. Cross
cimall irrigation canals. The river Gun]an Cham gra
dually approaches the road from the left, the ro&d runs
alon^ its right bank with numerous canals on the left of the
road 5 At 12 miles pass the edge of the date gardens of Badrah
on the left bank of the river, south-east of the road. Cioss
thP river and enter Badrah. Road this stage good and passable
for Jam Badrah is a town on the left bank of the river con-
taS about 800 houses inhabited by Arabs. Surrounded by
date and orange gardens. Water slightly brackish but dunk-
abk Troops should camp on the outskirts of the town to the
fi J u on the left bank of the river, where the water is purer,
jtwood "ry ^ree.-(F a ^A«».) Mannsell camped on the
iht bank of the river, opposite the town The mhabitants are
almost all Shi ahs, the Shaikh and his fam.ly bemg Sunms.
The river here (August) was 600 yards wide running m a broad
eravellv bed with several small channels, all shallow
Ind easily fordable. At some seasons the river is said to
' ,1,,, The date gardens extend 2 miles from
either bank and'are surrounded each by a mud wall, 15 feet to
20 feet high with watch towers at intervals on the outer edge.
The irrigation cuts on the plain are crossed by small wooden
bridges of a couple of date trunks covered with fascines and a
layer of 1 foot of earth on the top. Another curious culvert is
formed of concrete made of clay hardened by the sun m which
are embedded small found stones from the river-bed. A large