"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد II. ١٩١٧" [‎٣‎٥‎٤] (٥٤٢/٣٦٣)

f
354
LAND ROUTES
Miles from
Baghdad
34
39
40|
41|
43
48i
60
Khan el-Hasweh. Here the route is 2 m. SE, of Iskan-
deriyeh village on the Baghdad—Kerbela road (see
Route 21 a, m. 33). Khan el-Hasweh stands somewhat
high on the top of a slight eminence in an otherwise
featureless country. The khan is a one-storied building
with a courtyard surrounded by 38 arched recesses used
as lodging-places. Behind these recesses are rows of
vaulted stables. Parapet wall, about 4 ft. high, runs all
round the roof. The courtyard would accommodate
100 men, and the stables 150 animals. Attached to the
khan is a village of some 60 domed brick dwellings and
two coffee-shops. A few animals are owned in the village,
but supplies, except firewood, are not to be obtained.
The inhabitants are nearly all Sunnis. The soil in the
neighbourhood is a gritty mixture of pebbles and sandy
clay. The cultivation, of which there is a good deal in
the direction of Iskanderiyeh, all belongs to the
es-Samyeh. There was a small Turkish post here.
Grass huts on r., water from distant wells near Iskanderiyeh.
Museyib Canal marked on map about here.
Another canal indicated, and some distance farther on (at
or before m. 44) a third canal. They were dry in the
autumn of 1903. These two canals are spanned by brick
bridges, and the latter is apparently the Nasiriyeh. Canal
from the Euphrates.
Khan Nasiriyeh, a deserted khan on the eastern side of
the road.
About here a small water-channel is crossed.
Khan Mahawil, khan with walls 18 ft. high on outside,
very similar to that at Khan el-Hasweh but in worse
repair. Attached to the khan is a village of about 600
inhabitants. It is surrounded by mud walls which are
10 ft. high and topped with thorns. The place is the
head-quarters of the Mahawll Nahiye of the Hilla Kaza,
and consequently the seat of a Mudir. There is one coffee-
shop and a small zaptieh station. A few animals are
available and there is plenty of fuel; but grain, notwith
standing the existence of a considerable cultivated area,
is generally scarce, being exported. On the S. side of
the village flows the Mahawil Canal from the Euphrates,
with a stream in April about 20 ft. wide by 12 ft.
deep. About 50 date-palms belonging to village on the