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'IRAQ AND THE PERSIAN GULF' [359v] (721/862)
The record is made up of 1 volume (430 folios). It was created in 1944. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
COMMUNICATIONS
560
that charts and navigation marks are soon obsolete. The worst month
for navigation is September, shortly before the minimum level, before
new channels have been scoured. Conservancy was neglected between
the wars. Much of the water is drained off for irrigation during the
low-river season. The new Kut barrage checks the flow of the river
for about 50 miles above it so that the current slackens and silting
occurs both above and below; the Kut lock limits the size of steamers
and barges, and causes delay in transit. The most difficult sections
for steamer navigation are the ‘Narrows’ between Qurna and Amara,
the bends and shoals between Kut al Imara and Baghdad, and the
rapids, shoals, and islands between Baghdad and Mosul.
Qurna to Amara. The ‘Narrows’, between Azair (Ezra’s Tomb)
and Qala Salih, are only 60 to 70 yards wide, because much water has
already been drained off by canals (p. 52). The minimum depths are
5 to 8 feet at high river and 3 to 4 feet at low. The velocity of the
current varies from 3 to 5 knots at high river and from 2 to 3 knots at
low. There are numerous sharp bends with shoals in the inside
curves. Vessels cannot pass in this section, and steamers going up
have to draw in to the bank and drop their barges astern to allow
downstream traffic to pass.
Below Azair and above Qala Salih navigation of the Narrows is
easier. There are good banking-in places at Qurna, Azair, Qala Salih,
and Amara, with refuelling depots except at Azair. During the War
of 1914-1918 the Narrows were by-passed by a railway from Basra
to Amara (p. 580).
Amara to Kut al Imara. Above Amara, the river widens to 200
yards or more. This is the easiest section for steamer navigation,
though there are shoals above Ali Sharqi, and three bad reaches during
the low-river season between Ali Gharbi and Shaikh Saad. The
average velocity of the current is 4 or 5 knots at high river and i| or
2 knots at low. There are good banking-in places at Kumait, Ali
Sharqi, Ali Gharbi, and Shaikh Saad; Ali Gharbi also has a refuelling
depot.
Kut al Imara to Baghdad. This section is very difficult for steamer
navigation owing to the acute bends and numerous shifting shoals.
It is essential to carry a pilot with recent local knowledge, and
information is often passed between vessels going in opposite direc
tions. The velocity of the current varies from 4 to 6 knots at high
river and from to 3 knots at low. There are good banking-in places
at Kut al Imara, Naamiya, Hamidiya (Hashimiya), Aziziya, Suwaira,
Diyala, and Baghdad; Kut, Naamiya, and Aziziya also have refuelling
About this item
- Content
The volume is titled Iraq and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (London: Naval Intelligence Division, 1944).
The report contains preliminary remarks by the Director of Naval Intelligence, 1942 (John Henry Godfrey) and the Director of Naval Intelligence, 1944 (E G N Rushbrook).
There then follows thirteen chapters:
- I. Introduction.
- II. Geology and description of the land.
- III. Coasts of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
- IV. Climate, vegetation and fauna.
- V. History.
- VI. People.
- VII. Distribution of the people.
- VIII. Administration and public life.
- IX. Public health and disease.
- X. Irrigation, agriculture, and minor industry.
- XI. Currency, finance, commerce and oil.
- XII. Ports and inland towns.
- XIII. Communications.
- Appendices: stratigraphy; meteorological tables; ten historical sites, chronological table; weights and measures; authorship, authorities and maps.
There follows a section listing 105 text figures and maps and a section listing over 200 illustrations.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (430 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is divided into a number of chapters, sub-sections whose arrangement is detailed in the contents section (folios 7-13) which includes a section on text-figures and maps, and list of illustrations. The volume consists of front matter pages (xviii), and then a further 682 pages in the original pagination system.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 430; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/15/64
- Title
- 'IRAQ AND THE PERSIAN GULF'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:253r, 254r, 255r:429v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence