'Report on the Development of Mesopotamia with Special Reference to the Regeneration of the River Systems' [‎6] (12/50)

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downwards on 6itli6r side ] and th .6 IovV6st ground level is between tlie two rivers.
Although the high-flood level is above the level of the surrounding country, the
beds of both rivers are considerably below the lowest level of the ground, and in
that respect differ from some other rivers of the same class, notably, the Hoang
Ho in China.
The Tigris.
(12) The Tigris rises in the hills to the south and west of Lake Van, and enters
its delta in the neighbourhood of Beled 102 miles above Baghdad. Its sole
tributaries between Beled and Kurnah, a distance of o55-| miles, being the Shatt-el-
Adhem near the ruins of Opis, and the Diala a few miles below Baghdad.
When Colonel Chesney made his expedition in 1837-38, there was direct com
munication between the Euphrates and the Tigris by the Saklawia canal which
left the Euphrates above Felujah and joined the Tigris 5 miles below Baghdad
via the lake Akar Kuf. The distance from river to river was 45 miles with a depth
of water, in July 1838, of 6 to 18 feet. This canal was closed about 45 years ago by
Midhat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. as a flood preventive measure, but was reopened by the Turks within
the last few months, just after our capture of Baghdad. It may be now a useful
waterway for military purposes, but will require most careful watching and ultimate
closure.
At Kut, 214 miles below Baghdad, the Shatt-el-Hai, which was for many years
the main stream, takes off from the Tigris and runs out into the Euphrates marshes
near the Hamar Lake. It has a considerable flow in the flood season but is
practically dry at low-water.
The Tigris is at its lowest in the months of September and October, and begins
to rise with the winter rains in December ; but it is not in flood until the melting of
the snows in the high hills, which generally commences towards the middle or end of
March.
During high-floods the river overflows its banks, from Baghdad downwards;
whilst in the low-water season, the water escapes down numerous irrigation canals
and ditches on both sides of the river—more particularly in the lower reaches.
(13) The following table gives the discharges of the Tigris at various points ;—
Name of locality.
Flood cusecs.
Low-water
cusecs.
Remarks.
Baghdad ..
106,000
10,600
Kut-el-Amara
160,000
10,600
Increase in flood due to Diala which is dry
in low-water season.
Amara, above Chahala Canal
35,000
10,100
Great reduction at Amara in flood due to
spill over bank between Baghdad and
Amara.
Amara, below Chahala Canal..
20,000
5,600
Qualat Saleh
4,000
2,800
Ezra's Tomb
13,400
7,700
Kurnah
28,000
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