'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From December 1854 to March 1856. (New Issue.) Edited by the Secretary. Volume XII.' [‎85] (196/258)

OBSERVATIONS ON BAGHDAD. 85
The tribes enumerated in the foregoing pages are those which I am best
acquainted with in Irak. With many I am familiar, but with others I have
no more knowledge than from Native report, which is not always to be depend
ed upon. Their numbers and strength must, therefore, be considered at
best but an approximation, for to obtain truth in a country where no statistics
are kept, or recognized, it becomes a difficult matter to extract it from the
immense mass of fable constantly in the mouths of these singular people, who
frequently deceive, either from suspicious motives, or from mere wantonness
of character. There are other tribes too which I have been silent upon al
together, as in a month or two I may be able to offer a more correct account
of them than I am possessed of at present. These inhabit the land and
marshes west of the Euphrates, tracts as yet untrod by ^Europeans, but
which I propose to visit in a short time.
(Signed) FELIX JONES,
Commander and Surveyor.
Baghdad, October 8th } 1854.
HORSES.
I have been furnished with the following list of the various breeds of
horses of Neja blood, which are known amongst the Shammar Jerbeh, the
Anizeh and Dhiffyr, the chief Bedoin tribes in Syria and Mesopatamia, the
principal or chief stock is that named Kahilet Umm-al Arqub, from whence
the others are derived in the following order :—Saklawiyeh Gedran, Sakla-
wiyeh Aouber, Hadbeh Anizehi, Hadbeh-el-Berdawil, Hamdam Samn,
Kahileh-an-Nawaq, Maankiyeh Hederij, A1 Kubeysheh, Jdfeh Adhueh
Rubdeh, At-taweyseh, Abeyt Sherak, At-terafiyeh, Brush, Saklawiyeh
Ayeibijeh, Ash Sheheyb, Kahileh al Mossaneh, Abeyt al Hamreh ; Wadhneh
Khorassan, A1 Jaesheniyeh. , „ ... ,
These fine animals can be procured with difficulty from the tribes, thoug i
the foals born from them of inferior mothers are readily disposed of to the
dealers. To procure first rate horses in Baghdad, however, is at all times
difficult, for the dealers generally secure them with a view to profit in the
Indian market, and unless some disproportionate sum be offered they will not
part with an individual horse, for they say it spoils the sale of the rest. Horses
of no pretensions or of very little blood, can be got varying in price from 5U
Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. to 700 Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . Males can be bought also m the town, but Persia
affords the best supply. Their price is from loO Kerans to 250, between 70
and 120 Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . Of donkeys there are a goodly assortment. The whit
donkeys from Bahrein is a fine creature, and fetches about 70 or 1?° ^ U P^-
Even common donkeys of the place may be had at all price , ca
dromedaries are readily procurable, the best usually sc in S ‘ rn.
Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. each, and an inferior one costs about half or third that sum Those
found in Mesopotamia carry about three hundred weight, ^pd are not fitted
for journeys beyond the plains, but there are others ^
tier tracts adapted to mountain roads. These ca rry.Superior
dred weight more. Mares of inferior breeds can be ha ^> ^^^Xred
stock are jealously preserved b / ^sheh^ehbreed, bu/ifwa^ refused
b7th"r P ZdoiaTer m owl This .type" of horse is said to be found
only among that people.