'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎73] (206/458)

MEMOIR ON THE “ TIGRIS.^
73
the produce of the district, protected by the canal, has generally to cross
the Tigris to follow the Eastern road to the city. Even among the small-
tribes of the Khasrej and Wakadmeh, located on the line of route,
almost constant fear is entertained for the safety of their flocks,
w hich are swept off from time to time by detached parties of these
plundering hordes. We hear that a band of ten horsemen were seen
last nmht concealed in the neighbourhood of Nathriyat; but from circum-
stances mentioned by the narrator, we believe our party to be the inno
cent cause of the existing alarm. An old syed, who acted as spokesman
on this occasion, showered on the heads of the villains who showed
themselves on the horizon of his vision, the previous evening, a string of
abuse in the choicest phrases the Arabic affords,—calling Allah to wit
ness that if they came again to disturb the peace of the camp he would
personally cut the throats of the whole band. This seemed to give him
infinite relief, arid though by no means courteous to ourselves, as we
were the culprits, it was smilingly listened to, especially as we had wit
nessed the vaunting old fellow’s prudence in keeping aloof the night be
fore, when but the show of attack would have scattered any number so
small as our own, to seek safety at the expense of horse-flesh. I must
say, however, that this caution in them is not the effect of cowardice,
but is caused by the dread of subsequent retaliation. A visit from the
powerful tribes to whom these parties are allied would occasion a blood-
feud, in all cases attended with the greatest evils to the weaker party.
From Akbara to Sumeycheh it occupied us an hour and forty minutes.
The whole distance was traversed by the lines of deep and extensive
canals, and the appearances of wasted fields, on either side as far as we
could see. These canals all led from the Dijeil in the flourishing period
of that conduit, but the decreasing supply in the trunk stream—neglect
ed as it at present is—has caused these fine irrigants to be closed for a
long time past. They bear evidence, however, to the former fruitfulness
of the Dijeil districts, whose attenuated stream now but barely reaches
to Sumeycheh, and that for a few hours only in each day, according to
the height of the Tigris from whence it is led ; for the villages in its
course to the South have their regulated hours also for the enjoyment of
the element, which is very sparingly distributed. In the more piosperous
days of the Khalifs, when tho broad channel of the Dijeil was neaiiy