"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد II. ١٩١٧" [‎١‎٨‎٥] (٥٤٢/١٩٤)

Inter
mediate
distance
Miles
ROUTES-IV D, V
185
a station of the Da'irat es-Sanlyeh, which contains 2 large
walled khans and 2 smaller ones, which would together
accommodate 400 men and 200 horses. They stand on a
high, dry, and gravelly site. There are store-houses for
grain in this place. The surrounding country is cultivated,
and cut up by small canals, most of which flow from the
Nahr Abu Ghoreib.
On 1. bank in this reach is the edge of a high pebbly desert,
which lies between the Nahr Abu Ghoreib and the Nahr
es-Saqlawiyeh on the N. and stretches E. for about tl4 m.
to the neighbourhood of Nuqtah 22, m. 23^).
Fellujeh..
ally high water, the Turks were twice able to send convoys of small
bellams through by the Umm Jemal Canal: this was possible only
for about 3 weeks. The only reliable through route from the S. is
by the Shatt el-Beidha from the Hammar Lake. This is practicable
for large hellams from December to July. In 1916 three motor-
boats were brought down this canal, but with considerable difficulty
and much local assistance. In the high-water season it expands into
a wide Mior, and its overflow fills numerous parallel side channels.
The Nahr Hamzeh is navigable by small from December
to J uly.
Normally in the high-water season large hellams pass up the Khor
Huseiniyeh in the flood season from the Euphrates to the NE. limit
of the Khor (about 6 m. from Suweij).
From Suweij to Abu Mahau the Shatt el-Hai (here called the
jiil: Shatt esh-Shatreh) is about 12 ft. broad and about 2^ ft. deep in the
I high-water season. It is dry, or at least useless for navigation, in
jsii low water (? August to February).
lu From Abu Mahau to Kut el-Amara the Shatt is navigable by
mil steamers of 4-| ft. draught from February to June. During July it
I is passable, in normal years, for small maheilehs or medium-sized
HI hellams with a maximum draught of about 2^ ft. It becomes
|j passable for these craft again about November.
Ci | fc In 1915 (an abnormal year) medium-sized could still pass
in August, there being a minimum of 2 ft. as late as the 20th of
0 that month. For conditions in 1916, with reference to fords, &c., see
I Route 19 a, Appendix.