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'DIARY OF A TOUR IN THE PERSIAN GULF AND IN TURKISH ARABIA, DECEMBER, 1906 (WITH MAP)' [11r] (21/106)
The record is made up of 53 folios. It was created in 1907. It was written in English. 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.
15
Creeks.
There are several creeks on both banks
used for drainage and irrigation. The
Ashar Creek leads up to the town from
slightly above the Consulate. It is the
chief means of communication from the
river to the town. Buqgalows can go up
at high tide ; at other times only shallow
draught boats, and at dead low tide the
. creek is practically bare mud. ^ Two sub
sidiary creeks lead from the river to the
town, the Hendik and the Robat. They
are both higher up stream than the Ashar.
The latter is crossed by two wooden
bridges, one near its mouth, the other in
the town. The Hendik has one bridge
half a mile from the river. The latter
Basra.
creek is crowded with bugqalows loading
grain. Grain stores are to be found along
its banks. The town of Basra lies entirely
on the right bank of the Shett-el-Arab
about two miles from the river. The only
places of importance on the left bank
are the quarantine station and the Naval
Hospital. European houses and offices
are on the river bank or a short distance
up the Ashar creek. The Turkish Commo
dore also has a house on the bank. The
Landing-place.
Customs House is at the mouth of the
Ashar Creek. The Arsenal is opposite the
Customs House also on the Ashar Creek.
Width of creeks is about 40 yards and of
the river from 700 to 800 yards. Troops
could be landed anywhere on either bank.
No special arrangements would be neces
sary.
Boats.
The types of boats are :—
(i) A light keel-less boat called a
“ballum” 35 to 40 feet long
and 30 inches broad, drawing
about 6 inches of water. Capa
city 15 men fully equipped.
They are used as punts along
the banks, but are rowed across
the river. Crew—2 men, who
always prefer poling to rowing.
(ii) Lighters for cargo. Capacity 20
to 30 tons. Native built. Ample
supply.
(iii) Steel lighters. The Hamidieh
Company has four, 185 feet
' long, to take cargo to Bagdad.
Capacity 400 tons. They draw
5 feet of water when fully laden.
They have now been condemned
as being too heavy for the river
service and four new ones are be
ing built at Constantinople.
Whole capacity will* be 350 tons.
The Euphrates and Tigris Com
pany have four 175 feet long,
capacity 200 tons at 2 feet
About this item
- Content
Wilfrid Malleson, Diary of a Tour in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. (Simla: Government Monotype Press, 1907). This is the diary of a tour in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. by Lieutenant-Colonel Wilfrid Malleson, 7th-29th December, 1906. It describes his journey up the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. from Muscat to Basra, Muhammerah [Khorramshahr], and onto Baghdad, including periods in quarantine stations as well as the competing shipping lines, types of boats, date trade, and life in Baghdad. Includes his description of life in Muscat for the British Consul and encounters with German and Russian diplomats.
Includes 53 annotated photographs (ff 23-50) of the journey including views of Baghdad, Basra, Ctesiphon, and Musandam as well as two maps (ff 51-52).
- Extent and format
- 53 folios
- Arrangement
Folios 3- 14 are the written diary of the tour. Folio 23 has two prints (Muscat harbour; the telegraph station and post office at Fao. Folios 24-50 are photographs. Folio 51 is a map of the entrance to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , folio 52 is a map of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover and terminates at the inside back cover; 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'. side of each folio (except for f 52, where the folio number is located on the verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. ). Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'DIARY OF A TOUR IN THE PERSIAN GULF AND IN TURKISH ARABIA, DECEMBER, 1906 (WITH MAP)' [11r] (21/106), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/C260, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100117294308.0x000016> [accessed 7 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/20/C260
- Title
- 'DIARY OF A TOUR IN THE PERSIAN GULF AND IN TURKISH ARABIA, DECEMBER, 1906 (WITH MAP)'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:22v, 50r, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence