'Narrative of a Residence in Koordistan, and on the Site of Ancient Nineveh; with Journal of a Voyage down the Tigris to Bagdad and an Account of a Visit to Shirauz and Persepolis.' [‎157] (192/450)

CH. XVIII.] BANKS OF THE TIGRIS.
157
met the yacht, which had been waiting for us for the
last fifteen days. We got on board at night, and
found the change, from the confinement of the kellek
to an airy cabin and good deck, a very pleasant one.
March 12.—The yacht got under way at half
past five this morning, and when I went upon deck
at half past seven, I found we were going south, and
were just below the village of Mansooria. The
wind was south-east, and the day looked very threat
ening. Many villages were in sight.
About nine the yacht got aground, but was soon
off again; however we were obliged to go very
slowly, and notwithstanding all our precautions we
got aground again soon after eleven, and could not
get off again till noon; after which we sailed on
pleasantly enough. About three we came in sight
of the Bagdad gardens, the country being quite open
on both sides. Soon after we had a tremendous
storm of hail, and we were driven against the high
bank of the river. At a quarter before six, we came
into the reach of Imam Aazem; at six passed the
protected, of the Defterdar or Treasurer at Bagdad; and that some
years back, when the Defterdar was oppressed by the Kiahya, the
contre-coup extended to him, and he was obliged to fly. During
his absence his garden fell to decay, and from an annual produce
of 6000 piastres, it now scarcely brought him as many hundreds.
All government persons live at free quarters in these villages ;
a most serious burden to the inhabitants when situated on a fre
quented road.
The whole district is governed by a Zabit, but each village has,
besides, its own head or Kiahya.