"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد I. ١٩١٨" [‎٢‎٨‎٦] (٥٦٨/٢٩٥)

286 COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPOET
(d) Marid Canal. n ^
There is hellam traffic between Mohammareh and Fellahlyeh by
the Marid—Fellahlyeh canal.
Principal Waterways in
(a) The Euphrates from Birijik to Fellujeh.
The middle Euphrates has up till now been used mainly for
downstream traffic by shaMturs (see p. 292) from Birijik, or, since 1914,
from Jerablus or Meskeneh. Steamers have occasionally navigated
the river, and an experiment was made in 1911 with two large and
powerful motor-boats ; but of these latter one was wrecked and the
other was subsequently transferred to the Tigris.
(i) Downstream navigation. (1) take from about 14 to
about 45 days from Jerablus or Birijik to Fellujeh, according to the
state of the river, the wind, &c. (2) Steamers drawing 3-4 ft.^ and
motor-launches have done the journey from Meskeneh to Fellujeh,
but only in a full river would the journey be fairly safe.
(ii) Upstream navigation. (1) Native craft do not navigate upstream
of Hit owing to the swiftness of the current, especially at the rapids.
ShaJcMurs are towed back empty. (2) Light-draught steamers can
ascend to Meskeneh in high water, but progress would be slow, and
it has been reported that a speed of 12 knots would be needed to
make head against the current between Hit and Anab. In low
water the upstream journey would be dangerous, perhaps impractic
able, for steamers.
From a report of 1903 it would appear that navigation (especially
in the months of mean water) could be improved by considerable
engineering works at the rapids below Hadiseh between Hit and
Anah, at those off Anah town, and at those of Abu Quba'i and El-
Hammam above Kaqqah. The dams of the water-wheels
which occur on some stretches of the river help to impede navigation.
The Germans are said to have improved the waterway since 1914,
but details are lacking. It seems that they have placed life-saving
apparatus at dangerous places, and have destroyed a number ol
naurs.
(b)The Tigris from Diarbekr to Baghdad.
The upper and middle Tigris is an important waterway for down
stream traffic, the craft iri use being rafts on inflated skins {kelehs
see p. 291).
(i) Diarhehr — Mosul (? about 335 miles). The times taken by
helclis on this stretch of the river are reported to vary from about
4 to about 20 days, according to the state of the river, the wind, &c.