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'Turkish Arabia: Being an Account of an Official Tour in Babylonia, Assyria, and Mesopotamia, 1886-87' [‎10r] (19/72)

The record is made up of 1 volume (35 folios). It was created in 1888. It was written in English and Persian. 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. .

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These do excellently. But a desideratum is a better-tempered nail, the points of which,
when driven through the crust, might be split before being clinched, instead of as now
left in a very clumsy state to cause " brushing." Much beyond this the local resources do
not go. Thus, a march out of Mosul, the ridge-pole of a small Baghdad-made tent snap
ped. A village wright then turned out another, which broke directly. No attempt was
made to get a new one till the considerable town of Ana, on the Euphrates, was reached,
and the one made there proved just as brittle as its predecessor. Then, as to leather, even
Baghdad saddlers import chiefly the flimsier kinds, well enough inside towns, but useless
for the field. The rope-makers have lately been turning out hemp and cotton rope, like
what comes from India. But the common rope of the country is made of goats' hair.
Under mere strain nothing could be stronger. When it gets hitched round a horse's leg
it will cut to the bone rather than break. But it is always in a frayed state, and soon goes
to pieces in wet weather. When it comes to bits and bridles, and picqueting gear, for mules
and horses, it is even worse. Newly bought horses are often made over with nothing on
them whatever, and the only bits procurable are of the kind called by us the " Mameluke,"
from having first come under our notice long ago in Egypt. This is less meant to guide a
horse with than to punish him with when unruly. In addition to a cruelly high port it has
an iron ring passing, in lieu of a curb chain, right round the lower jaw. The chances are
this ring soon cuts into the flesh. Mules are seldom bitted at all; but pulled about by
means of a halter, with an iron nose-band, the edges cutting into the skin. To this is
attached the picqueting rope or chain. All these instruments have to be got rid of when
the animal passes into European hands; and unless one come provided, there is nothing
available to supply their place.
Many sorts of picqueting gear for mules and'horses have come in for trial during this
march. For mares and geldings nothing has done better
Picqueting. than the forefoot hobble like this
Five and twenty years ago the above was adopted in cavalry regiments on the Madras
establishment. Many then said shoulder-strains and other accidents would be caused by
it, but it has not proved so. Every rider can carry it with him, so as to be able to picquet
his horse and put his hand to something else directly on halting. It also lets the animal
amuse himself by nibbling at the ground, or in rough weather turn his head away from the
blast. Even in Baghdad there are no blacksmiths who can make chains having the links
of equal strength; and all such gear would have to be provided elsewhere. For entire
horses a second anchor was generally found requisite, especially when a little above them
selves and the following modified form of the Indian heel-rope being available on the
spot answered well:—
Arab and Persian paiwand.

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Content

This volume is a printed account of the official winter tour of 1886-87 in Babylonia, Assyria and Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) undertaken by Colonel William Tweedie, Bengal Staff Corps, Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. 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. (Iraq) and His Majesty's Consul-General at Baghdad. The purpose of the tour was to visit the Vice-Consulate of Mosul in Upper Mesopotamia and the Consulate at Bussorah [Basra], as well as Indian subjects residing in Karbala and Najaf, the two centres of Shiah pilgrimage. In addition, the author identifies it as an opportunity to see the inhabitants and features of 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. more generally (folio 7). The report was published by the British Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Baghdad on 24 May 1887, and printed by the Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta, India in 1888. This copy was presented by the author to George Curzon (see inscription on folio 2v).

The volume contains a table of contents (folio 5), list of maps and illustations (folio 6), and note on Arabic and Persian transliteration and names (folio 6v). The volume includes the following sections: 'Section I.- Marching 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. '; 'Section II.- Transport'; 'Section III.- Equipment'; 'Section IV.- From Tigris to Euphrates'; 'Section V.- Across Al Jazîrah [al-Jazīrah]'; 'Section VI.- Localised Bedouins east of Tigris'; 'Section VII.- Through Al Hawîja [al-Ḥawījah] to Kirkûk'; 'Section VIII.- Kirkûk to Sulimânîa [Sulaymānīyah]'; 'Section IX.- Sulimânîa to Mosul'; 'Section X.- Mosul to Sinjâr Hills', including details about the Yazîdîs [Yazidis]; 'Section XI.- Sinjâr to Der on the Euphrates'; 'Section XII.- Right bank of Euphrates, from Der to Rumâdi [al-Ramādī]'; 'Section XIII.- Southern Shâmîya'; 'Section XIV.- Karbalâ and Najaf'; and 'Section XV.- Baghdad to Bussorah and back, by steamer', including details on Arab coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and Muhamarah.

Illustrations include: 'Resident's Camp, 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. , 1886' (folio 7v); 'Mule gear equally for draught and pack' (folio 8); 'Arab pâlân [ pālān , pack-saddle]' and 'Persian pâlân' (folio 9); 'Arab Camel-rider: and Saddle' and 'Horseshoe of Arabs, Persians, Turkomans, Afghans, and others' (folio 9v); 'Picqueting chain and peg (forefront)' and 'Arab and Persian paiwand' (folio 10); 'Arab rashma [ rashmah ]: including (1) rashma proper, or (iron) nose-band: (2) idhâr [ ‘idhār ] , or headstall: and (3) rasn [ rasan ] (lit. rope) or rein' (folio 10v); and 'Flying camp: Sinjâr to Karbala (all three tents Baghdad-made)' (folio 24).

Maps include: 'Map Accompanying Account by Resident, 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. , of his Winter-Tour, 1886-87' (folio 4v); 'Sketch of Map of Route from Hît to Tikrît crossing lower portion of Al-Jazîra' (folio 14v); 'Mosul Pashâlik, 1887' and 'Plan of Mosul Town (After Capt. F. Jones), 1852' (folio 18v); and 'Straightest route (across Syrian desert) for camel riders only, between Baghdad and Mediterranean, as followed by late (Consular) dromedary post' (folio 27).

Extent and format
1 volume (35 folios)
Arrangement

This volume contains a page of contents (folio 5) which references page numbers.

Physical characteristics

Condition: Folio 34 includes annotation (likely by Curzon) and a section of text has been cut out and removed.

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. Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in
English and Persian in Latin and Arabic script
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'Turkish Arabia: Being an Account of an Official Tour in Babylonia, Assyria, and Mesopotamia, 1886-87' [‎10r] (19/72), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F112/384, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023643185.0x000015> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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