"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد II. ١٩١٧" [‎٣‎٧‎٣] (٥٤٢/٣٨٢)

AHWAZ-NAZIRI—AMAKA
373
war was connected with Amara by a boat-bridge. There was also
apparently a boat-bridge across the mouth of the Jehaleh Canal N. of
the town. Along the whole river frontage (about ^ m. in length)
runs an embankment or wharf faced with brick. The northern
quarter is the older and extends the whole way between the Tigris
and the Jehaleh. Here is a fine building which belonged to the
Dd'irat es-Samyeh, and here also were the Turkish barracks, the prin
cipal Government offices, and a large covered bazaar. In the
southern quarter are 27 well-built houses of recent date facing the
river; 15 of them were built by the es-Sami/eh, and the rest
by local sheikhs.
Climate and Hygiene. —In summer the heat is very great, but
dry, and the nights are comparatively cool.
Amara has the reputation of being the most healthy town in
Irak after Baghdad. In the surrounding country cases of leprosy
are said to be rather numerous.
Supplies and Commerce. —Wheat, barley, maize, rice, and sesame
are brought here from the surrounding country ; fruit and nuts can
be obtained in the town. Before the war there was a considerable
export of cattle to Syria and also to Basra. rice, and barley
were sent to Baghdad and Basra, the greater part of the being
shipped on to Bombay and the Levant ports, and a considerable
quantity of the barley to Europe. Amara wool was also exported,
and is said to be of good quality. Skins and hides were sent to
Baghdad. The manufactures of the town are Arab cloaks, Kurdish
rugs, and Sabian silver ware. There are perhaps 150 or more shops
in Amara. The currency employed before the present war was
mainly Persian silver qrans.
Inhabitants. —The bulk of the population are town Arabs, but
there are large numbers of Lurs from Pusht-i-Kuh who work as
porters, and Arabs who appear to live a semi-nomad life in huts on
the edge of the city. The larger shopkeepers and merchants are
nearly all Persians and Jews. There is a colony of Sabian silver
smiths who live in a quarter of the town near the junction of the
Musharreh and Jehaleh canals, and a fair number of Christians, who
appear to be for the most part artisans and scavengers.
Administration and Authorities. —Amara under the Turkish
regime was the head-quarters of a Sunjaq of the same name in the
Vilayet of Basra. The town was administered by theMutessarif of
the Sanjaq, under whom was a municipal council. The garrison
usually consisted of one infantry battalion, one squadr on of cavalry,
and three or four field-guns. The had a head
office here, and there were Mamurs of the Customs, Public Debt, and
\