'Field notes: Mesopotamia. General Staff, India. February, 1917.' [‎78v] (163/350)

148
Route No. 6— contd .
is another mound close to the river which would
also hold a brigade.
(cl) From QaL’at Salih to ’Amarah, both inclusive, the
country is above high flood level on both banks, and
is generally suitable for camping grounds throughout.
(e) ’Amarah affords good camping facilities for an un
limited number of troops. If camped on right bank,
or on left bank up-stream of the Musharrah Canal, the
width of dry ground is limited. There are good
sites lying between the Musharrah and Jahalah
Canals and between the Jahalah Canal and the
Tigris (left bank) S.E. of town.
(/) Generally speahing there is unlimited camping space
at all halting places during the low river season
(September to January inclusive).
Xo. of stage
and total
Details.
distance.
■
SAKRICHAH
12i.—General direction of
stage N. N. W. to mile
12i 3^, then . north. The
road is a sandy track, easy going. The country to the w r est
of the road is thick grass and difficult for all arms. The
villages are mostly of reed huts but there are a few mud houses.
At mile 3^ a creek, in dry season, 10 yards wide and 4 feet deep
with muddy bottom, is crossed by a single trestle bridge with
a 9-foot roadw-ay. (In the flood season, the creek is 16 yards
wide by 6 feet deep). At mile a creek, empty in dry season,
but 10 yards wide and 5 feet deep in the flood season, is crossed.
At mile 5 Norfolk Hill, 15 feet high, which forms a good signal
station, is passed on the right, and just beyond it, the villages
of Jabbah and Tash on the left. At mile 5 the Barbukh creek
is crossed by a wooden trestle bridge 20 yards long, ramped
with sand bags. The bottom is muddy and the water in dry
season 4 feet deep. Passing the villages of ’Aluwah and Jal’ah
on the right, the road crosses a small creek ''vilh 2 feet to 4
feet of water by a single trestle bridge at mile 64, and leaving
the towers of Abu Aran on the right, reaches a deep and fast