'Military Report on Iraq. Area 2 (Upper Euphrates)' [‎13v] (31/140)

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Administration .—The town is under an Arab Mudir who is
responsible to the Mutassarif at Ramadi.
Hit .—The ancient town of Hit is on the right bank of the
Euphrates, 119 miles downstream of Anah. It stands on a
mound on the river bank which is precipitous to the plain and
slopes more gradually towards the river. A tall leaning
minaret near the river bank provides a conspicuous landmark
which can be seen for miles. The town is surrounded by a
loop-holed wall and gives the impression of being built for
defence. There are large date and fruit gardens on both banks
of the river upstream of the town and a little cultivation
downstream. A raft ferry worked on a steel cable crosses the
river at Hit, but in April, 1921, the cable was broken and no
one appeared to be in a position to say when it would be
repaired.
A more depressing, malodorous, dirty-looking spot than Hit
it would be difficult to imagine, and it owes these attributes to
the bitumen wells and furnaces, the smoke from which causes
a hazy atmosphere to hang over the town. The surrounding
ground is also redolent of bitumen and sulphur. Despite the
unpleasantness, however, it is said to be decidedly healthy and
local sages state with conviction that on one occasion it saved
the town from an epidemic of cholera.
There are seven bitumen wells in the neighbourhood of Hit,
five on the right bank, 1 mile west of the town, and two on
the left bank. These wells are believed to have been worked
for at least 5,000 years. Herodotus mentions the bitumen
wells of the town, then known as Is. It has been identified
with the Ihi of the Babylonian inscriptions, the Ahava of
Ezra, and with the 1st, from which a tribute of bitiunen was
brought to Thothmes III, according to an inscription at
Karnak.
Water .—Unlimited from the Euphrates.
Commerce and Supplies .—Hit owes its very existence to the
presence of the bitumen wells from which it derives its com
mercial importance. They are seven in number, five on the
right bank, 1 mile west of the town, and the other two on the
left bank. The quantity of bitumen is practically unlimited
and the amount of production depends entirely on what the
townsmen choose to draw from them, but the average output
is between 150 and 300 tons per month. In appearance the
wells are pools covered with black viscous -liquid, the surface
of which is disturbed in the centre by an undercurrent of
water which bubbles up at brief intervals charged with sulphur,
the overflow being carried away from the main pool in a stream
to the river ; the liquid bitumen is removed from the pool by