'Reconnaissances in Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, North-West Persia, and Luristan from April to October 1888. By Lt F R Maunsell, Intelligence Branch. In Two Volumes. Volume I: narrative report, description of larger towns and routes leading from them. Simla: Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General's Dept, 1890' [‎11r] (26/312)

some 25 per cent, above the annual average. A prohibition against the
exportation of Arab horses from Turkey has been in force many years ;
but this does not practically affect the trade. The horses bred by nomad and
settled Arabs in the interior are smuggled across the frontier, and shipped
from the Persian port of Muhammerah. The yield of wheat last year was
insufficient to render its exportation profitable ; in fact, wheat to the value
of £lo,000 was imported, but this year there may be some margin available,
as harvests up-country are fair.
The imports are chiefly Manchester and Indian cloths and cottons, su^ar,
spices, coffee, indigo, and kerosine oil.
The wood of the date tree, the only indigenous tree, is used extensively
for rafters for houses, landing piers, and piles to bank out the stream; but for
the bettermost houses in Busra and Baghdad planks and rafters have to be
imported from India.
Coal for the river steamers was imported last year from England to the
amount of 5,000 tons; and of the 90 steamers entering the port 88 were British.
This alone is sufficient to show the importance of British trade interests
here.
The date season is the busiest time of year, commencing in the middle of
August, and continuing through September and October. The grain export
season is in May and June.
The following lines of ocean steamers run to Busra:
The British India Steam Navigation Company running weekly with Gulf mails from
Karachi.
The Bombay and Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Steam Navigation Company every fortnight from Bombay.
There is also a direct line to London owned by a Jewish firm in
Baghdad. In the date season numerous steamers are chartered, and it is
usual then to see seven or eight steamers loading at once.
The various European firms in Busra are—
Messrs. Lynch Brothers (principal local office being in Baghdad).
Messrs. Gray, Mackenzie & Co., Agents, British India Steam Navigation Company.
Messrs. Darby, Andrews & Co., Agents, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Steam Navigation Company.
Messrs. Muir, Tweedie & Co. (principal local office in Bushahr).
Messrs. Hotz & Son, a Dutch firm, with London offices.
Messrs. Asfar et Cie., Agents for Mennier & Cie., a French firm.
The two first firms do by far the largest portion of the trade.
The town is on the right bank of the river, and is distant from it 2 miles.
Situation Ot the town. U st ™ d / in a Ia ^? 3rea “closed by a mud wall with
round towers at intervals ; a good deal of which is
now thrown down or out of repair. To reach the town from the river it is
necessary to ascend a narrow winding creek.
The wall encloses an irregular-shaped rectangle and measuring 4,300
by 2,200 yards wide, and was built as a protection against attacks from 5 the
desert Arabs.
. The is i n the south-west corner, and the remainder of the enclosure
is filled with date gardens.
There are fi ve gates : on the north-west face near the town is the Bab Robat
and on the south-west the Bab Bakria; at the south-east corner of the rectangle
is the Bab Zobair; and along the south-east face are the Bab Seraji and the
Bab Minawi, the latter opening along the river bank.