"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد II. ١٩١٧" [‎٣‎٥‎٣] (٥٤٢/٣٦٢)

ROUTES 21 a, b
353
EOUTE 21 b
%
BAGHDAD—NEJEP (97| m.)
Via Hilla
Authorities : —Lorimer, Gazetteer of the Persia 1908 (Report of December 1905);
Military Report on Region between Bag 1911 (Report of
1903); and other information.
This is an unmade road, but is fit for driving as far as
Hilla. The route follows the Kerbela road to m. 29. From Hilla
to Nejef there was, in 1903, a path for pack animals only. As
far as Hilla the greater part of the route passes through countiy
which, although cultivable, is for the most part desert, with scanty
grazing. There are a few scattered permanent villages surrounded
by areas cultivated at flood time, when there is water carried in
those canals still in good order. From the ruins of Babylon (m. 56)
to Hilla the route runs through cultivation and vast date plantations.
The construction of the Hindiyeh Barrage may have already improved
the character of the country for some miles to the N. of Babylon.
As far as Hilla water is plentiful throughout, and there is good camel
grazing. Firewood is abundant, but practically no other supplies are
obtainable. A double line of telegraph runs from Baghdad to Hilla.
S. of Hilla the road, after passing through an area impoverished,
till recently at least, by the drying up of the Hilla Branch of the
Euphrates, runs through country which in 1903 was inundated for a
great part of the year, the area and depth of the inundations varying
with each annual flood. For the last 7 miles the route runs over
sand and gravel. These conditions may have been modified by the
Hindiyeh Barrage. Water on this part of the route was, in 1903,
described as abundant; fuel and fodder were not scarce, and it was
thought that large quantities of live stock and grain could always be
collected.
Miles from
The route leaves Baghdad by the Baghdad—Kerbela road
(see Boufe 21 a).
The route diverges gradually to the 1. from the Baghdad—
Kerbela—Nejef route 2-4 m. S. of Khan el-EIr, and
begins to run slightly E. of S.
MES. II 2
Bag-lidad
o
29