"ملاحظات ميدانية: بلاد الرافدين. هيئة الأركان العامة في الهند. فبراير ١٩١٧". [ظ‎‎٥‎٣] (٣٥٠/١١٣)

limited to 10 feet in the Low Water Season. Between Qurnah
and ’Amarah is the most difficult stretch of the river for navi-
gation.
The following is a description of the river in detail, by
sections: —
Baghdad to Kut-al-Amarah .—Between Baghdad and Kut the
distance by water is 213 miles, though the distance by land,
neglecting the sinuosities of the river, is orfly 128 miles. Bagh
dad stands at 112 / 50 feet above mean sea level, while the level
of Kut is 55'43 feet. In this reach of .the river navigation at
low water is impeded owing to the existence of shoals, but is
practically uninterrupted. The width of the river may be taken
as 380 yards, with a depth of 26 feet in flood, diminishing to
61 feet in low supply. The velocity in flood is 4 miles, and in
low supply 11 miles, per hour. At Kut the Hai branch, itself
the ancient Tigris, leaves the right bank of the river.
Kut-al-Amarah to ’Amarah .—Between Kut and ’Amarah the
distance by river is 153 miles, as against a direct land route of
139 miles. The fall in the level of the land is 28 feet, Kut being
55'43 feet and ’Amarah 27 / 19 feet above mean stea level. In this
reach navigation is <easy all the year round. The width of the
river may be taken as 330 yards, with a depth of 26 feet in flood
diminishing to 61 feet in low supply.
In this reach the first of the branches which deprives the
Tigris of a large supply of water is met with on the right bank
above ’Amarah. This branch is known as the Bitara.
’Amarah to Qurnah .—Between ’Amarah and Qurnah the dis
tance by river is 86 miles as against 70 miles by the direct land
route. "The fall in the level of the country is 18 feet ’Amarah
being 27'19 feet and Qurnah 10'49 feet above mean sea level.
In this reach the Tigris experiences many vicissitudes, and it
is here that all the difficulties of navigation are to be found.
At ’Amarah, on the left bank of the river, the Jahalah
(pronounced Chahaleh) branch leaves the Tigris, with its bed
about 61 feet lower than that of the Tigris itself. The width
of the river averages 197 yards, with a depth of 13 feet in flood,
diminishing to 61 feet in low supply.
A short distance down stream from ’Amarah on the right bank
the Major Kabir leaves the Tigris. Immediately below it on the
left bank the Machaira branch takes off. Both these branches