'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' [‎19v] (43/312)

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50 miles above its junction with the Tigris ; and there is no doubt steamers
could also ascend to this point. Above this the river is shallow, running
over a wide gravelly bed, and unnavigable.
The ShaU-el-Uai is a canal or branch of the river leaving the Tigris at
Kut-T-Amara, and flowing south until it joins the Euphrates near Suk-es-
Shyukh. It is navigable from February to June, and is used then by native
craft to export the corn grown in the rich district through which it passes.
These boats average 80 tons burthen, and draw 5 feet of water. At
other seasons of the year it is unnavigable, and from July to November its
bed is in many places dry.
The Mosul, a large Turkish steamer, took troops up the Shatt-el-Hai
in 1886-87 about half way to the Euphrates, but did not proceed further, not
because of the shallowness of the water, but because of the narrowness
of the river, in which it was impossible to turn the vessel.
The only other means of inter-communication between the Euphrates and
Tigris by water is the marsh which covers about 60 miles of the southern end
of Mesopotamia between the rivers. The ancient canals connecting the two
rivers, of which there were several, are now partially or entirely filled up with
drifting sand.
The large marshes on the left bank of the Tigris formed by the lower
waters of the Kerkhah river are navigable in the flood season as far as
Hawaizah; but the route is unsafe because of Arab raids, and seldom used.
The Saklawiyeh or Isa canal, which joins the Euphrates and Tigris near
Baghdad, is navigable in the flood season for steamers.
Midhat Pasha’s steamer went through this canal and up the Euphrates as
far as Maskeneh in 1873 .—{See “ Report on Voyage, Saklawiyeh to Maskeneh ”:
Foreign Office, 1878.)
The Euphrates is quite navigable in the flood season, but in low water the
stream is much obstructed by rocks and the remains of masonry bunds, which
would take some trouble to remove.
Messrs. Lynch do not think this river navigable in its present state for
their vessels, but that it would be feasible to improve it.
The craft on the Tigris below Baghdad are sailing vessels of 30 tons burthen,
drawing about 5 feet when fully loaded. In the low season they have to carry
less. They have one large lateen sail and a clumsy rudder of great length
with a high poop, and in adverse winds they pole themselves along the banks.
They would be very useful in the construction of a boat bridge. In the low
season, in the shallow reaches, they unload their cargo, haul the vessel over the
obsrruction, and load up again.
Were suitable emoankments made and the river prevented from wandering
at will over the marshes at the flood season, the navigation would be greatly
improved. Even one foot more depth would make a great difference, and the
riverbed would be gradually raised, so that it could be used for irrigation.
A huff ah or gooff a is the circular used on the middle Tigris, made of pome
granate branches woven together with rope, and plastered on^he outside with
bitumen. The construction is very simple, and they are of various sizes, hold
ing as many as twenty men. Horses, sheep, and cattle are often crossed in
them, or moved from place to place down stream, and all the country horses
aie accustomed to enter them. One or two paddles are used to propel them
along. Kuffahs are found principally on the river from Baghdad to Amara,
and on the Diala at Bakuba. .
^ ra ^ ars k Arabs use a long narrow boat called a “ belum, ”
propelled by a paddle and one long oar.