'Field notes: Mesopotamia. General Staff, India. February, 1917.' [‎13v] (33/350)

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Fao.
The bar is about 2 miles from Ras-al-Bisha, the western
most point of the entrance, and 3^ miles above Ras-al-Bisha
is Fao, a village of about 400 inhabitants, and the late terminal
station of the Turkish land telegraph line, connecting with the
British cable (Indo-European) to Bushire and India.
Fao has a rough stone landing jetty, with deep water a few
yards from the outer end.
There is a mud fort at Fao and in the neighbourhood, about
6,400 yards south-east of the telegraph station, is also an un
completed brick work. This is closed work in the shape of a
blunted redan (but nearly rectangular) facing approximately
south-east. It is now in ruins and overgrown with reeds.
(See also page 133.)
Having entered the river, the banks are vely low on both
sides the entire distance to Basrah, and are intersected by
numerous irrigation canals; the country is often under water
except for small raised banks between the plantations. The belt
of land near the river is exceedingly fertile and produces dates,
vegetables and grain. This belt extends from half-a-mile to
2 miles from the river bank; behind is waste country or swamp.
Large herds of cattle roam along the banks of the river.
On the ebb the wate^ is fresh and fit for drinking except in
the autumn; then the river is low and slightly brackish. Ten
miles above Fao it is always fresh at low water.
Considered as a possible site for a railway terminus, Fao,
which lies inside the bar at the mouth of the Shatt-al-’Arab, has
all the disadvantages and none of the commercial advantages of
Basrah.
The land on the eastern bank as far as Muhammareh is
known as ’Abbadan island, being separated from the mainland
by the Bahmanshir river, which runs from the Karun river at
Muhammareb. into the Gulf east of the Shatt-al-’Arab.
Fao to Kabda Point .—Kabda Point is the long rounded point
on the west bank opposite to and about 24 miles above Shallali
Point on the chart. Previous to reaching this, Ma’amir village is
passed on the western bank, 7 miles above Fao, and further up
Ad Dorahj on the eastern bank a boat-creek runs off opposite Fao
1