"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد II. ١٩١٧" [‎٣‎١‎٦] (٥٤٢/٣٢٥)

f
316
Miles from
Basra
29
32
36
42i
44
LAND ROUTES
the inside. The water is abundant: it is slightly
brackish, but becomes sweeter after the wells have been
in use for a short time. Pumps are essential, as other
wise the edges of the wells fall in if men stand round
them drawing water in buckets. Grazing for camels
only. Some brushwood for fuel.
General direction from here to Grainat, NW. by N. Eoad
in April 1916 was passable for Fiat lorries and A. T.
carts, but see introduction to this route, and under
m. 32 below.
Proceed NW. (311°).
Pass Et-Tobah. mounds ; from here bear slightly W. of N.
(355°) towards Nukheileh tower.
Hukheileh tower. No village. Well of good water and
some smaller water-holes. From here to Grainat the
going is difficult for wheeled transport.
Proceed NW. by N. (326°), along edge of the Euphrates
Idiur. to
Grainat, low brick-kilns. The water of the is
brackish inshore, but was found to be sweet about
300 yds. out on May 1, 1916. The distance from the
shore at which sweet water is to be found probably
varies. Bellams drawing 3 ft. were brought to within
100 yds. of the shore on May 1, 1916. Grazing, for
camels only, near camp. Some brushwood is obtainable,
but not much.
About 4 m. N. by W. of Grainat is El-Lawi (Alluwi) Point, 1 m. to
NE. of El-Lawi ruins. There is a good landing-place at the point,
but stores could be removed thence only along the shore in the
direction of Grainat, as in other directions for a radius of a mile
the ground is too damp for transport.
General direction from Grainat to Ratawi is W. by N.
The road was passable for Fiat lorries in April 1916,
but the stage was found an exhausting one for draught
animals. In mid-August Fiat lorries with 16 cwt. stores
and ten men stuck in soft patches near ' Roumanila'
(Rumeileh ?). See also introduction to this route.
Road runs due W. from Grainat.
Road enters soft drift sand-hills through which it runs to
Kumeileh, two wells. From here proceed NW., skirting
more sand-hills. Surface is now harder. The track of
the Turkish Army's retreat (1915) is followed.