!['Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [‎237] (246/568)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100023043183.0x000001/IOR_L_MIL_17_15_41_2_0246.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [‎237] (246/568)")
'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [237] (246/568)
The record is made up of 1 volume (282 folios). It was created in 1918. It was written in English, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Armenian, Kurdish and Syriac. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
CUERENCY, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
237
silver : value before the war about Ad. or (see below, under
Exchange).
The du hazar, silver, = 2 qrdns.
The following gold coins were rarely seen: the gold hazar
(passed at 3^-4 gram) ; the panj ha (nominally 5 passed at
10|-11 grans) ; the ashra/i (nominally 10 qrans, passed at 20^-22
grans).
There are two units of calculation (not coins) in common use : the
dinar,^ of which 1,000 go to the qrun ; and the = 10
Fractions of qrans are generally expressed in or huM-qamaris.
Indian and Turkish coins, as well as Mai'ia Theresa dollars, were
also current. Recently the quantity of
rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
in the country has
greatly increased.
Exchange. —The qran exchange has given serious trouble in the
past few years. Before the war the exchange with the rupee was
at the rate of 365—385 qrdns to Rs. 100, Soon after the beginning of
the war the qran depreciated, and the rate was 425 and more. Early
in 1916 the qran began to appreciate, and the process continued
rapidly throughout that year. In November 1916 the rate was 250
in Arabistan; early in January 1917 it was less than 200. Then
began a reaction, and in April 1917 the rate was about 260.
The causes of the appreciation of the are obscure. Among
them may be, first, the rise in the price of the silver ; secondly, the
flooding of northern Persia with Russian paper money ; and thirdly,
the curtailed coinage of new Persian currency due to the difficulty of
importing silver.
The appreciation was against the British interests, as mules and
supplies were being purchased in south-western Persia for the Expe
ditionary Force in Mesopotamia, and were being paid for in
which were being bought for the purpose in large quantities. In the
course of 1916 the purchase of qrans was suspended, and orders were
issued that supplies were to be paid for, so far as possible, in
rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
.
The result has been a large increase in the number of
rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
circu
lating in southern Persia.
Weights
Baghdad. —The standards of weights vary from place to place.
Even at Baghdad, the commercial capital, there is much unnecessary
complication. Two systems prevail: based on the Baghdad
oke {huqqeh) of 8 lb. 12 oz. 8 dr. (&) based on the Con
stantinople oke of 2 lb. 12 oz. 12 dr.
[a) The scale of local weights is as follows:
About this item
- Content
This volume is A Handbook of Mesopotamia, Volume I, General (Naval Staff, Intelligence Department: November 1918). This is an updated and expanded edition of A Handbook of Mesopotamia, Volume I, General (Admiralty War Staff, Intelligence Department: August 1916) (IOR/L/MIL17/15/41/1). This is an introductory volume containing matter of a general nature giving an account of conditions in Mesopotamia, for the most part as they were before the First World War.
The volume includes a note on official use, a title page and 'Note'. There is a page of 'Contents' that includes the following chapters and sections:
- Chapter 1: Boundaries and Physical Features;
- Chapter 2: Climate;
- Chapter 3: Minerals;
- Chapter 4: Fauna and Flora;
- Chapter 5: Hygiene;
- Chapter 6: History;
- Chapter 7: Inhabitants;
- Chapter 8: Religions;
- Chapter 9: Administration;
- Chapter 10: Irrigation of Irak [Iraq];
- Chapter 11: Agriculture and Land Tenure;
- Chapter 12: Commerce and Industry;
- Chapter 13: Currency, Weights, and Measures;
- Chapter 14: Communications and Transport;
- Vocabularies;
- Index.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (282 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is arranged in numbered chapters. There is a contents page and an alphabetically arranged index.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the first folio and terminates at the last folio; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of the folio.
Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Armenian, Kurdish and Syriac in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [237] (246/568), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/15/41/2, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023472674.0x00002f> [accessed 27 June 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023472674.0x00002f
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023472674.0x00002f">'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [‎237] (246/568)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023472674.0x00002f"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100023043183.0x000001/IOR_L_MIL_17_15_41_2_0246.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100023043183.0x000001/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/15/41/2
- Title
- 'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1:556, ii-r:ii-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence