'Field notes: Mesopotamia. General Staff, India. February, 1917.' [‎23v] (53/350)

notably in the south-west corner, but the ditch still remains
now dry for the most part, and enclosing a circumference of
about 6 miles.
The remains of the old covered way and glacis form a line
of mounds, giving a command of 10 to 15 feet over the plain.
There are two gates still remaining, the south-east gate
(Bab-ash-Sharqi) on the right bank, the north-west gate (Bab-
al-Mu’adhdham) on the left bank. The citadel near the north
west gate still exists but its walls are also falling into decay.
The town has no architectural character whatever, and even
in the modern portion the streets are mere alleys crowded with
bazaars, which are arched in with brick. The late XVali, Nazim
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , among other measures took in hand the question of
street improvement, but his acts were not characterized by
prudence, and he caused great resentment by the various de
molitions which were carried out by his order. The shops are
well supplied with European articles, including Manchester
cotton goods and English stores.
The Sarai (residence of the Wall), a good building, is situated
on the river bank north of the citadel; near, and also on the
left bank, above the bridge, are the infantry barracks, an
imposing two-storied brick building, on three sides of a square,
able to contain 3,000 men. The artillery and cavalry barracks
and stables are in the citadel and outside the north-west gate.
In addition to the regular barracks, a standing camp of
mud built huts has recently been established outside the town
about 1 mile from the south-east gate.
There was a large European colony, chiefly British, who
lived in good houses on the left bank of the river near the
British Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. .
A fine hospital, built by a wealthy Jewish merchant, has
lately (1911) been opened outside the north gate, while there
are French Carmelite schools, a Jewish high school and a branch
of the Church Missionary Society.
The representative of the British Government in Baghdad
had for long occupied a privileged position in comparison 0 with
the status of the representatives of other foreign powers. These
latter fulfilled the ordinary functions of consuls, but the British
representative was styled Resident (he is referred to by Arabs
as “ Safir ”—ambassador) and had a guard of 30 ' Indian