"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد II. ١٩١٧" [‎٣‎١‎٢] (٥٤٢/٣٢١)

312
LAND EOUTES
THE EUPHRATES VALLEY
ROUTE 12
BASRA—NEJEF (284 m.)
Authorities:—Field Notes on Mesopotamia, 1915, Koute 5 a ; and other information.
An easy desert route along the southern edge of the Euphrates
Valley. The soil is mostly firm sand and gravel, and the going is
good. Water is plentiful throughout; it is usually brackish, but
drinkable, except at Qasr ibn 'Ansar (m. 144), where it is fit for
animals only, and in the Bahr-i-Shinafiyeh. Fuel and fodder are
plentiful, especially in spring, except between Qasr ibn Ansar and
Nejef. Lucerne is obtainable at Basra, Zobeir, and Qasr Blr Shagrah,
but in limited quantities only. Some supplies can be procured at
Samaweh ; at Zobeir they are plentiful; elsewhere there are none to
be got.
Miles from
Basra
o
92
114?
137
Basra, The Basra—Nasirlyeh route (13 a) can apparently
be followed as far as Khamislyeh.
Khamisiyeh.
Qasr Blr Shagrah lies about 20 m. SSW. of Khamisiyeh. Qasr
Abu Ghar lies about 15 m. NW. of Qasr Blr Sbagrab, and
Qasr Nabah lies about 10 m. NW. of Qasr Abu Ghar. The only
route described between Khamisiyeh and Qasr Nabah follows
this detour to SW.: it is easy going through sandy, gravelly
country with much bush. Water-pan at Qasr Blr Shagrah.
It is probably possible to follow a more direct route over the open
desert to Qasr Nabah.
Qasr Habah., a strong fort standing in a depression, near
Tel Abu Sharan. General direction to Qasr ibn
'Ansar, NW.
About 7 m. NNE. of Qasr Nabah are the extensive ruins
of ' (J r, S. of which are petroleum and bitumen wells at
Tel Mughaiyir.
Qasr ed.-Dag.aim, ruined fort. Here there is a pond (Ain
ibn Dughaiyin of report?) of drinkable water, only
slightly brackish.