'Field notes. Mesopotamia' [‎56v] (117/230)

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siderable depth of water, and any vessel which can cross the bar
at the mouth of the Shatt-ud-’Arab {see page 14) can ascend
to Qurnah.
The following is a description of the river in detail, by sec
tions
Baghdad to Kut-al-Amamh .—-Between Baghdad and Kut the
distance by water is 215 miles, though the distance by land,
neglecting the sinuosities of the river, is only 103 miles. Bagh
dad stands at 115 feet above mean sea level, while the level of
Kut is 56 feet. In this reach of the river navigation at low
water is impeded owing to the existence of shoals, but is
practically uninterrupted. The width of the river may be taken
as 380 yards, with a depth of 26 feet in flood, diminishing to
64 feet in low supply. The velocity in flood is 4 miles, and in
low supply 14 miles, per hour. At Kut the Hai branch, itself
the ancient Tigris, leaves the right bank of the river.
Kut-al-Amarah to 'Amcvrah .—Between Kut and 'Amarah the
distance by river is 153 miles, as against a direct land route of
120 miles. The fall in the level of the land is 28 feet, Kut being
56 feet and "Amarah 28 feet above mean sea level. In this reach
navigation is easy all the year round. The width of the river may
be taken as 330 yards, with a depth of 26 feet in flood diminish
ing to 6| feet in low supply.
In this reach the first of the branches which deprives the
Tigris of water in low supply is met with on the right bank above
’Amarah. This branch is known as the Bitara.
'Amarah to Qurnah. —Between ’Amarah and Qurnah the dis
tance by river is 90 miles as against 66 miles by the direct land
route. The fat! in the level of the country is 18 feet ’Amarah
being 28 feet and Qurn .h 10 feet above mean sea level In this
r ach the Tigris experiences many vicissitudes, and it is here,
that all the difficulties of navigation are to be found.
At ’Amarah, on the left bank of the river, the Jahalah
(pronounced Ohahaleh) branch leaves the Tigris, with its bed
about 6-4 feet lower than that of the Tigris itself. The width
of the river averages 197 yards, with a depth of 13 feet in flood,
diminishing to 6£ feet in low supply.
A short distance down stream from ’Amarah on the right bank
the Majar Kabir leaves the Tigris. Immediately below it on the
left bank the Machaira branch takes off. Both these branches