'Military Report on Iraq. Area 2 (Upper Euphrates)' [‎15r] (34/140)

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brought from other parts of Iraq to Kubaisah, where they
are either purchased by Kubaisah merchants for export or
arrangements made for their despatch across the desert.
The imports come chiefly from Damascus and Aleppo and
consist of the following :—
All descriptions of clothing, fruit, silks, dyes, tobacco, and
rifles.
Kubaisah, like all other desert ports of Iraq, is an important
arms traffic centre. Rifles and ammunition are brought in by
Badawin convoys from the desert, usually hidden in the packing
of more innocent merchandise and sold to receiving agents in
the town, who eventually retail them to the Mesopotamian
tribes. By this means there is a steady infiltration of arms,
supplemented by an occasional caravan carrying nothing but
rifles and ammunition, which may bring anything up to 1,000
rifles. Turkish Mauser is the predominating pattern imported,
but occasionally French and British rifles are to be found.
Although the supply of rifles shows no sign of being exhausted
there is a general .indication that ammunition is not so easily
obtainable to-day. Of late rifle caravans have been avoiding
Kubaisah and taking their wares to towns further south, such
as Rahhaliyah and Shifathah, or else selling them direct to
the settled tribes of Iraq.
Kubaisah itself produces practically nothing except dates,
and is entirely dependent on external sources for all supplies.
There is a small ill-supplied bazaar of about 20 shops.
Grazing. —Nil, except for camels.
Transport. —About 200 camels and 120 donkeys could be
obtained in the town.
Communications.—
(i) To Hit by desert road (13 miles). Passable for
L.A.M.B. cars.
(ii) To Rahhaliyah by desert road (64 miles). Passable for
L.A.M.B. cars.
(iii) To Ramadi by desert road (48 miles). Passable for
Ford vans.
(iv) To Anah (64 miles) by desert road. Passable for
Ford vans.
The routes given below are followed by caravans to
Damascus and Aleppo.
(a) To Damascus. —Kasr Amaj—Mahaiwah—Tel Agharri—
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Suab—al Khor—Bir Saba—Damascus.
Alternative Route to Damascus. —Ain al Arnab—Wadi
Hauran—Wadi Rathga-—Wadi Suab—Wadi al Miah—Halba—
Ali Aniah—Subabiah—Damascus.