'Field notes: Mesopotamia. General Staff, India. February, 1917.' [‎21r] (48/350)

of 20 “ Saffinas, ” a native boat 30 feet long, 11 feet beam,
o feet free board, made of branches of trees for ribs, and planks
made watertight with a coating of pitch on the outside. The
gunwales act as saddles for the road bearers, which alternate
in spans of 10 feet and 15 feet.
The small “ cut ” or swing portion to allow boats to pass
through consists of a raft of 3 Saffinas; and the large cut, to
allow steamers.to pass, includes the small cut and a second
raft of 9 Saffinas operating in two portions. Each portion
swings on to the left bank. ‘ The bridge is closed by pulling
on a wire cable that connects the large raft to the fixed portion,
■and then pulling the small raft to the big one. The old Turkish
Saffinas are gradually being replaced by new ones of similar
dimensions but built on more scientific lines.
3. The Jahalah Bridge consists of 27 Dannaks (a native
canoe covered with pitch and decked over) fitted with saddles;
the spans between canoes varying from 10 feet to 15 feet. Two
on the left form the “ swing out ” to allow mahelas to pass.
4. The Musharrah Bridge consists of 6 Dannaks and one
Saffina, thus forming a hogback which allows small craft to
pass underneath.
. 5. The Bridges can take Field Artillery and are provided
with hand railings.
Kut-al-Amarah. —4,000 inhabitants and the centre of a
considerable grain traffic, most of which comes from the Shatt-
al-Hai (more usually known as Shatt-al-Gharaf) the canal or
channel which runs across from the Tigris at Kut to the
Euphrates. 500 houses, with telegraph office and barracks for
200 men all on the left bank of the river, with a bridge of
boats across. Caravan routes lead to Baghdad and Mandali;
from Badrah on the latter route, a difficult hill track crosses
over to Kirmanshah in Persia.
8hatrat-al-MuntafLk is a small town on the Shatt-al-Hai,
and is on the boundary of the Basrah and Baghdad wilayets.
In the neighbourhood lives Shaikh Bargash of the Muntafik
tribe. The Shatt-al-Hai is dry in the low water season, water
then being obtained from springs in the river bed.
Some further details regarding these towns will be found
in route (river) 'Report No. 4. (See page 136).