'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III. PART II: L to Z' [‎123r] (250/988)

MUH—MUH
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Such is Muhammerah at present. And the future Surveys of the Moham-
Hierah-Klmrmabad Railway have already been made as far as Shuster—•
two years at the utmost should see work started on this section. Railways
on the North-West Frontier Region of British India bordering Afghanistan. of India have, it is almost needless to relate,
had a very civilising effect on the inhabitants of those parts. It is not
unnatural therefore to hope that the building and ultimate opening of this
Railway will have the same effect on the unruly Luris and Bakhtiaris,
who are at present so great a thorn in the side of the Teheran Government.
The Railway will tap an enormous area, naturally rich, which only needs
law and order and an assured market for its products to develop into its
former prosperity. The trade of this district should increase enormously.
A few more years may possibly see the Baghdad Railway at Busrah,
which should likewise develop, though there is little likelihood of Busrah
and Muhammerah interfering with one another’’s trade : a glance at the map
will prove how entirely distinct are the districts that these Railways will
feed. It is, however, quite possible that a branch line will be built between
the two ports : the distance is only 19 miles and a line across the desert
should present no engineering difficulties.
Muhammerah has the natural conditions requisite for developing into a
great port with two defects neither of which are insuperable.
Firstly. The bar at the mouth of the river which, as has already been
mentioned, can only be crossed at high tide and now that Turkey has formal
ly handed over to Britain the-lighting and policing of the Gulf, there can be
little doubt that dredging operations will be undertaken in the near future
and this defect removed.
Secondly .—It must be remembered that Turkey owns one and Persia the
other bank of the Shatt-al-'Arab and in the event of hostilities between
Turkey and Persia, shipping could be subjected to fire from one or other of
the banks. The contingency is a remote one, it is granted, but is worthy
of notice notwithstanding the fact that the free navigation of the river
has been secured by the Anglo-Turkish Convention of July of this year.
In any case, an alternative route to the Gulf exists in the channel of the
Karim River itself, both banks of which are in Persian territory. During
the war of 1857 one of H.M/s warships actually used this channel, but it
was of very light draught as is proved by the fact that it was able to get
over the rapids of Nasiri and reach Ahwaz. Dredging operations on a
large scale would therefore be necessary to make this route practicable.
The water at Muhammareh is, of course, plentiful and very good from
the rivers, but is not to be obtained from wells, as the water found in
them is salt and brackish. A well was dug by our Sappers in 1850 at about
a mile inland, and no water was procured till the well had attained a depth
of 28 feet, when a very little was found, and that was undrinkable and
brackish. Water is also to be obtained from the various cuts and nalas,
but doubts are entertained as to its wholesomeness, owing to its llowing
through the date-groves, where vegetable matter grows thickly on the banks.
The water from the Bahmanshir, or Haffar, should be always procured,
if possible, for drinking, being supposed to be much moie wholesome than
that of the Shatt-al-’Arab ; while the creek or irrigation water should be
avoided, being impregnated with the foul vegetable matter through which,
it passes.
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