'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎49] (80/714)

WAYS AND MEANS
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thence to Deir on the Euphrates, 10 stages; thence to Hit on the
Euphrates, 10 stages; and thence to Baghdad, 4 stao-es • totil
2 . 28 stages. 1 From Alexandrettato Aleppo the distance
Aleppo can be covered either by horse or carriage in two days.
From the latter place horses must be hired to Baghdad ;
and according to the impedimenta carried by the traveller he will be
able to complete this section of his journey in from fourteen to six
teen days. A longer route from Aleppo may also be pursued, via
Diarbekir (11 stages) and Mosul (13 stages), whence it is 12
stages by land to Baghdad. 2
From Damascus, which is connected by an excellent carriage
road and daily diligence service (9 hours) with Beirut, the
8. Damas- alternative loutes are as follows : (1) via Tadmor or
cus route Palmyra and Deir, a total distance by ordinary camel
of 20 days, by fast dromedary of lo days, no other means of
locomotion being possible, and the security being none of the best; 3
(2) via the old Desert or Dromedary Postal Route straight across
the desert, a distance for the ordinary traveller of about 150 hours
1 They are as follows Alexandretta-Khan Diarbekirlich (4 hours), Ain-el-
Bedeh (7), Fermanin (7), Aleppo (8), Deir Hafir (8), Meskineh (7), Abu Hureira
(8), Humam (9), Shariat Mohammed Agha (5), Sabkha (5), Hamad el Kelaib (7),
Tebni (8), Deir (10), Miadin (10), Salahieh (11), Abu Kamah («), Gaim (6),
Nahieh (8), Ana (7), Fehaimieb (7), Haditha (6), Jubba (8), Hit (8), Remadi (10),
Fellahieh (8), Abu Ghraib (6). Baghdad (7). This route (with small variations)
is described by Lady Anne Blunt in Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates. Wonder
may be felt that, so much of the above journey being upon the banks of or near
to the Euphrates, the waterway is not used to facilitate communication. For a
short time the attempt was made. During the vigorous government of Midhat
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. at Baghdad a small paddle-steamer plied on the Euphrates between Hiilah
(Babylon) and Meskineh. But the intention was rather to keep an eye upon the
Bedouins than to encourage traffic; and with the departure of its founder the
scheme fell through.
2 This route is described by Tristram Ellis, Vn a Raft and Through the Desert,
vol. i. The stages between Aleppo and Diarbekir are as follows ;—Akharin (7),
Begler Begi (6), Muslim (7), Mazar (7), Berajik (4), Hawah, or Dewak (9), Mish-
mishieh (7), Severak (6), Kainak (6), Kara Bakcha (6), Khan (6), Diarbekir (6).
The route from Mosul to Baghdad is described by Thielmann (1872), Journey hi
the Caucasus, fyc., vol. ii. cap. vi. ; Binder (1884), Au Kurdistan, cap. ix.
3 This route is described by Tristram Ellis, vol. ii. The stages between
Damascus and Deir are as follows :—Jerud, Kasseir, Karyatain, Ain-el-Baida
(Bedeh), Tadmor, Rakha, Sukhneh, El Bowaib, Bir Kabakib, Deir. Those between
Deir and Baghdad have already been given. M. von Thielmann in 1872 rode
from Kerbela via Palmyra to Damascus. Journey in the Caucasus, &g . vol. ii.
cap. vii,
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