"تقرير عسكري حول عربستان (المنطقة رقم ١٣)." [ظ‎‎٣‎٢] (٣٦٦/٦٩)

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quarter, consisting of brick houses, Subba of mud huts and
serifash, the Town, one-third of which are mud and two-thirds
brick houses and Sabakh, in w'hich all houses are of mud. Two-
thirds of the town belongs to the Shaikh of Muhammarah and
one-third to Haji Rais. The state of the town in spite of its
modem improvements is still highly insanitary, the only kind of
drain being a channel cut down the centre of each street. In
the town towards its eastern end are the residence of the Persian
‘Karguzar’ and the Telegraph office.
Outlying appurtances of Muhammarah are the Customs
jjqjiqq originally built as a Governor s palace at the mouth
of the Karun upon its right bank, the quarantine station and the
doctor’s quarters, which are a little further from its mouth on
the left bank, and were constructed in the first place for artillery
and infantry barracks respectively.
The British Consulate stands on the right bank of the Haffar,
and the British cemetry is some distance inland from the Con
sulate, at the place where the date groves of Hizan give place
to open country. The village of Kut-ush-Shaikh on ’Abadan
island, opposite to the town is practically a suburb.
(b) Water .—The water at Muhammarah is, of course, plentiful
and good from the rivers, but is not to be obtained from wells,
as the water found in them is salt and brackish. Water is also
to be obtained from the various cuts and nallahs, but doubts
are entertained as to its wholesomeness, owing to its flowing
through the gate groves, where vegetable matter grows thick
ly on the banks. The water from the Bahmanshir or Haffar
should always be procured, if possible, for drinking, being
supposed to be much more wholesome for drinking than that
of the Shatt-al-’Arab ; while the creek or irrigation water should
be avoided, being impregnated with the foul vegetable matter,
through which it passes.
(c) Inhabitants—The inhabitants of Muhammarah are
chiefly local Arabs belonging to the Hilalat, Bait Chenan and
Mutui divisions of the Muhaisin 5 but there are also numerous
Arabs descended from Bahraini refugees, some natives of Dizful
and Shushtar, a few merchants from other parts of Persia,
about 100 families of Sabians and 300 families of Jews and
Christians.
Accommodation for travellers is afforded by 9 ‘ Husainiehs.’
These are buildings primarily set apart for the readings and