'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From December 1854 to March 1856. (New Issue.) Edited by the Secretary. Volume XII.' [‎68] (179/258)

68
COMMANDER P. JONES’S
feasible route to India. It must be borne in mind, however, that Colonel
Chesney’s vessels navigated the stream during the period of its highest rise,
and in a year, too, when the flood attained some feet beyond its ordinary level;
consequently no obstacles were met with in the descent oj the stream to
lead to the inference that any existed. The contrary is, however, the case,
for many obstructions, both artificial and otherwise, are found in its course,
that develop themselves only in the dscent of the stream. These are impedi
ments to navigation even in the season of its greatest height and during eight
months of the year close its channel entirely to steam vessels of the most
moderate draught of water. The character of the tribes located on its banks
offers also a serious bar to its usefulness for commercial purposes, for I am
convinced that, unless some great political change in the country interposes
to coerce them, none but well appointed steam vessels of war could effect
the passage, independent of the obstructions caused by shallows, ancient mill
dams, and rocky ridges which traverse its bed from Hit northwards as
far as the latitude of Aleppo. The rapids coursing over these
during the freshes from April to June could only be surmounted.
In 1841, by the steam vessel I commanded, with the aid of two
hundred men attached to two ropes acting in concert with the steam power,
and I question much, if the superior vessels now built could overcome them
without similar assistance ; at all events the delays that could ensue from the
manoeuvring requisite to effect the object w'ould neutralize the advantages
derivable from the agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. of steam. A knowledge of its character in the
autumn and winter may be gleaned from the fact of the descent in these
seasons occupying the Nitocris from October to April. Her draft was
three feet six inches, not more than would be requisite, perhaps, for a vessel
carrying both cargo and passengers in addition to her fuel. In some places,
indeed, it was necessary to remove every article but the engine, to ensure a
draft of two feet six inches before these ridges could be crossed, and then
only, after several day’s hard labor with anchors and chain cables laid out to
force her forw ard in the direction of the current of the river.
“Such were the impediments met with in 1841-42 ; now they are still more
serious, for the river has left its bed atAl Hammar, south of Suk-esh-Sheukh,
and is entirely lost in the marshes and vast swamps on either side, which, in
the spring overflow a large tract of country and extend to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
Since the embankment, alluded to in the first part of the report, gave w'ay
and immersed the surrounding country, boats of very light tonnage even have
been compelled to transfer their cargoes to canoes at this part, for conveyance
to Suk-esh-Sheukh, the market of the Montafik Sheikhs. To the anarchy
existing in this tribe during the last six years, the change in this fine stream is,
indeed, attributable • for the repair of the dams has been neglected in the