'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎898] (959/1050)

898
'IRlQ
artificial; while at a distance from the rivers the population ia sparse and shifting, and
there is consequently no need for fixed lines of communication. A few very important
exceptions must be signalised in the north; namely the routes from Baghdad to the
Persian frontier, the routes from Baghdad to the north and nort-west, the routes
from Baghdad to Hillah and Karbala, and the route from Karbala to Najaf. In the
south, land routes as a rule lie only between adjacent places and are of no consequence ;
but the route from Basrah to Safwan forms an exception to the rule, and there is
a road between Basrah and Fao behind the date plantations of the Shatt-al-'Arab
which is frequented to a considerable extent.
Transport and supply. —The general question of transport and supply in 'Iraq is a
large one, and it is impossible here to enter on details such as are given in special works on
the subject.* Trade is carried on between Baghdad and Karbala chiefly by camels and
donkeys, between Baghdad and Khanaqin entirely by mules; and mules predominate
in the caravans going from Baghdad to Badrah and Mandali. A fair supply of camels,
horses and mules is forthcoming in most of the drier parts of the country. At Baghdad
passable riding-horses and excellent mules can be hired for a tour at the rate of one rupee
per diem each; if however the journey is of an unusual kind, or less than 10 animals
are engaged, the rate may be as much as one and-a-half rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . A Baghdad mule
caravan can, on flat ground, cover from 3 to 3| miles in the hour and'as much as 40 miles
in the day. It is advisable to take a written agreement when transport is engaged,
even for a private journey.
Tibn or chopped wheat and barley straw is the usual fodder and can be had at all
seasons ; gfeen food, called Hashish, is at many places obtainable only in the early spring.
In cultivated districts there is generally a certain surplus of these two articles and of
grain; but the supply is liable to fail in seasons when irrigation or rainfall is deficient.
None of the roads of 'Iraq are made roads, but those from Baghdad to Karbala, Hillah
and Najaf respectively, to the south and south-west of Baghdad, are fit in ordinary
weather for vehicular traffic. Most of the coming and going between Baghdad and Hillah,
Baghdad and Karbala, and Karbala and Najaf is by stage-coach. In 1905 there were 26
coaches plying between Baghdad and Musaiyib, 12 between Musaiyib and Karbala;
9 between Karbala and Najaf, and 6 between Baghdad and Hillah: those on the Musaiyib
and Karbala line go and return the same day, while the rest go one day and return the
next. The coaches resemble covered waggonettes, have four wheels, and are drawn by
four horses or mules : they run together in convoys and are generally spoken of as
belonging to a Qumbanlyah or company, but in reality they are owned in twos and threes
by private individuals. The usual fare between Baghdad and Karbala is one Majidi.
A similar service exists between Baghdad and Samarrah.
In all 'Iraq there is only one horse tramway, connecting the western suburb of Baghdad
with Kadhimain ; it is 3 miles in length and was constructed about 1870 by Midhat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ;
at that time Wali of Baghdad.
At present there is only one railway in 'Iraq, namely the Baghdad railway, which is
open for traffic as far as Samarrah.
Accommodation for travellers, —At halting-places on the main-routes, as well as in
most towns and large villages. Khans or hostelries for travellers are generally found;
on the main route to Karbala there are several at each stage. They consist of quadrangu
lar enclosures surrounded on the inside by small rooms and stables; in the better sort
there are a few superior rooms forming a second storey ; but the sanitary condition of all
alike is indescribably bad. Some Khans are public, and at these the accommodation is
free ; but the majority are privately owned, and the Khanchi lives by the payments he
receives for supplies and by the tips which satisfied travellers usually give him.
Boat bridges. —Where bridges over the large rivers exist in 'Iraq they are invariably
bridges of boats. The pontoons are lightly constructed of wood and smeared with bitu
men ; they are secured to one another by lashings, and the whole bridge is held in position
♦See in particular pages 17 to 25 and 91 to 97 of the Gazetteer of Baghdad, 1889. Since the statistics thero
given were compiled the price of horses has risen, and that of mules has fallen, about 20 per cent. Neither the
pack-horse nor the mule of the country can carry more than 300 lbs. satisfactorily. The price of donkeys is now
from £7 to £10, and they cannot ordinarily carry more than 200 lbs. The local farriers mentioned as available
should be discounted, for they are so ignorant as to be more dangerous than useful. A quantity of new informa
tion on the subject of transport and supplies has recently become available in Captain H. Smyth's Reconnaissance
Report, 1914, which contains some useful estimates : and a few fresh facts will be found in this Gazetteer ja the
articles oa llillah Town, Tawairij and Nasirlyah Town.