'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.' [‎394] (429/450)

394
[app. \i.
NOTES ON RETURN TO BAGDAD.
Left Bussora 5th May. About Ozeir, and a little way
above, the banks of the river, especially the right, are in
habited by the Albu Mahommed Arabs, who are famous
thieves. Higher up, on the right bank, are the Saad Arabs,
dependant on the Montefiks.
The jungle on the banks of the Tigris is composed of
arbor vitse and liquorice plant, which latter is very luxuriant,
being in some places about the height of a man. The
Turks are ignorant of its qualities.
The ground in many places was impregnated with nitre.
The encampments of the petty Arabs on the banks of the
Tigris present a very curious and not unpicturesque appear
ance. They are formed of coarse mats, spread like an
awning, often in a semicircular form, supported by a few
sticks, under which you discover the women engaged in
their domestic employments, and a multitude of children
entirely naked, who flock down to the water's edge on the
appearance of a boat, to beg dates, which the passengers
occasionally throw them. The men are seen, in various
situations, idling about the camp, or driving cattle, with
here and there a savage, half-clothed figure leaning on his
spear, and staring at the passengers. Generally also a
spear or two is stuck in the ground, and a half-starved-look-
ing mare seen grazing on the briars; and a small boat is
frequently tied up in the fore-ground. These camps are
guarded by large and fierce dogs.
The Beni Lam encampments are of black horse-cloth
AVe saw their grand camp on the lett bank of the river.
Saw great quantities of the caper-bush, which was in flower.
Remarked a curious circumstance on the river: when there
is a jungle on one side there is none on the other. As soon