"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد III. ١٩١٧" [‎١‎٢‎٨] (٤٣٢/١٣٧)

128
KIVER ROUTES
Hight Bank
Deir ez-Zor.
The river branches just below Deir, and the town lies
on the branch known as the Jafr Canal, said to be fordable,
though Chesney's steamers passed through this branch.
Immediately opposite the town is an island about 1 m. long
and in mid-stream. A bridge, passable for field guns, from
the r. bank to the island was completed some years ago.
According to recent information it had been extended from
the island to the 1. bank by the autumn of 1914. (A Turkish
traveller stated in 1911 that the Government were preparing
to build a suspension bridge from the island to the 1. bank,
as the current had here proved too strong for the pile bridge
which had been planned.)
There is a ferry from the island to the 1. bank. Above this
island are two others. There are trees on all three islands,
and gardens on the uppermost.
Total
distance
Miles
192
EOUTE IV H
DEIR EZ-ZOR—MESKENEH (181 m.)
Deir ez-Zor. From here to m. 47 the river is generally
about 250 yds. broad. In January 1903 the average depth
was 5 ft., and the current about 2f m.p.h.
Bereliyeh village. El-Imashiyeh ford was here about
1840, but there seems to be no more recent authority for its
existence.
A small stream joins the river.
Tel el-Kliureiteli. This hill, to the N. of which is a plateau
with low mounds, lies between the two branches of the
Baghdad—Aleppo road which bifurcates at Deir.
'Ain Abu Jum a. This is a small bituminous spring
near the river.
Lubtar Island. Round this island the 1. branch of the
river makes a bend NE. and then SW. The r. bank branch
0
43
*4
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14
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