"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد II. ١٩١٧" [‎١‎٩‎٢] (٥٤٢/٢٠١)

192
LAND ROUTES
A T.L. (two wires on iron tubular posts) runs near the road the
whole way.
Water is good and plentiful from the Shatt el-'Arab and the creeks
flowing out of it. The marsh water is generally brackish and un-
drinkable.
Dates, eggs, chicken, sheep, grain, milk, and wild duck can be
bought in small quantities from villages There is a certain
amount of scrub, suitable for cattle-grazing and fuel, to the W. of
the road.
There is unlimited camping space except during the flood season
(March-June inclusive), when the marshes run close alongside the
road, or actually flood it. So long as the road itself is not closed by
floods, enough dry camping space can be found for at least one
brigade of infantry. The camping-ground at Steamer Point, though
usually above flood level, was under water May-July, 1916.
Miles from
Basra
0
4^
2
Basra. The starting-point is about 1 m. W. of Makina-
malsus (at the junction of the Baghdad (?) and Ashar
roads). General direction to c Abd el-Latif is NNW.
The road, which lies over open desert, is good going
during the dry season, but becomes heavy after rain.
On the r. of the road is a grove of date-palms stretching
down to the river.
Cross an irrigation bund about 10 ft. high by an easy
gradient. From here the Magil road branches off to NE.
Road approaches Gurmat 'Ali, which lies in the angle
between the Shatt el- c Arab and the New Euphrates
Channel. E. of Gurmat f Ali along the bank of the Shatt
el- c Arab is a line of 12 brick-kilns, 15-25 ft. high.
Cross the mouth of the New Euphrates channel by a bridge
of tubular pontoons, 200 yds. long. The northern section
of the bridge can be swung open to allow boats to pass.
Between the road beyond the bridge and the Shatt el-Arab
is another line of brick-kilns, where a large number of
bricks are available.
Abd el-Latif camping ground, consisting of two rectan
gular sites, one on each side of the road. Water is good
from the Shatt el- 0 Arab. The best landing and watering
place is just S. of the brick-kilns mentioned under m. 4,
but the approaches are difficult owing to mud.
From here the general direction to Nahr e Umr is NNW. The
road at first runs nearly N., following the line of the
s