'Military Report on Iraq. Area 2 (Upper Euphrates)' [‎10v] (25/140)

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Towns .—The only towns of any importance are along the
river bank. A brief description of them is given below :—
Anah .—Is situated on the right bank of the Euphrates,
119J miles by river above Hit, and 192 miles downstream of
Dair-al-Zor.
General Description .—Steep cliffs descend precipitately
from the desert plateau to nearly the level of the river, leave
a flat ledge of ground from 100 to 300 yards in width along
which passes the Aleppo caravan route immediately under the
base of the cliffs and along which for a distance of about
7 miles straggle the town and date gardens of Anah.
The houses are interspersed amongst gardens and date
groves, and a very noticeable point is that every available
inch of ground is under some sort of cultivation. Cultivation
itself is carried out with a thoroughness and care seldom seen
in this country, the fields evidently being sown with selected
seed, and being free from weed. The cultivation is all irrigated
from “ Naurs.”
On the high ground north of the town close to the Euphrates
is a ruined castellated building, formerly a fort, built in the first
half of the last century to command the river approaches.
The Sarai or Government building is situated in the east end
of the town ; it is not well constructed for defence, and is
commanded from the high ground to the north as well as from
the left bank of the river.
On the left bank of the river opposite the western end of
Anah is the village of Rawah, with fruit gardens and date
groves ; on the hill above is a fort, capable of holding one
company, and known as the Qasr al Zaim.
Water .—Unlimited at all seasons from the River Euphrates.
Commerce and Supplies .—Local supplies of cereals, vege
tables, dates and fruit are barely sufficient for the needs of the
inhabitants and passing travellers to and from Aleppo. There
is no regular bazaar, but shops in private houses are scattered
here and there throughout the town. In normal times wheat
and barley are imported from the Dair-al-Zor district by
shakturs. Sheep are plentiful and at least 1,000 a month could
be obtained from the surrounding tribes. The only local
industries are the manufacture of farwas and abbas. A farwa
is a sheepskin coat made with long or short sleeves and much
after the style of the poshteen obtainable on the Indian frontier.
Ihe price ranges between Rs. 10 and Rs. 45, according to
style and quality.
1 he Anah abba or Arab cloak is woven locally from sheep’s
wool. It is rather distinctive, being parti-coloured in brown
and white. Many of the abbas are exported to Baghdad and