"ملاحظات ميدانية. بلاد الرافدين" [ظ‎‎٣‎٩] (٢٣٠/٨٣)

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In 1911 estimates were being prepared to provide the town
with a proper water-supply.
For water-supply of towns along the Tigris and Euphrates
see pages 26 to 30, and also Routes in Chapter VIII. (See
p. 123.)
’Arabistan .—The water of the Karun, Diz, and Jarrahi
rivers is good and sweet ; there is therefore no difficulty about
scarcity of water at Muhammarah, Ahwaz, or Shushtar, or any-
where on the routes connecting these places. (See pages 167 to
178.)
On the cross route Maksar to Ahwaz water is scarce.
At Ramuz water is good and plentiful.
See note regarding Norton tube wells under Basrah
Muhammareh .—At Muhammareh the water of the Karun
river (i. e., the Hafar canal or Bahmanshir canal) is considered
to be better than that of the Shatt-al-’Arab, while both are better
than the water of the irrigation canals which take off from the
rivers. Wells at Muhammareh only contain brackish water.
In 1857 water tapped at a depth of 23 feet, one mile inland, was
also found to be brackish.
Bandar Md’shur .—At Bandar Ma’shur water is rather scarce
and some of it is not good. It consists of the following :—
(a) An open tank, to the east of the town, upon which the
townspeople depend for 8 months of the year.
(b) Many small wells in-the town with brackish and un
healthy water.
(c) An underground cistern west of the town with excellent
water, kept as a reserve.
(d) The river Jarrahi with excellent water, but about 15
miles distant.
Supplies.
General .—There is comparatively little production in this
region generally. Dates form the main article of export. The
value of grain, barley, and wheat exported in 1909 amounted to
£600,000. The failure of the harvest is a factor always to be
reckoned with, both in ’Iraq and ’Arabistan. The average
amount of wheat exported from Baghdad during 1907-08-09
was 15,000 tons.