The marshes commence 4 miles above the town of Lamlum; they extend
about 28 miles in a straight course, and 50 by the main channel.
In these marshes the river divides itself into innumerable small canals, leaving
the main channel averaging about 120 feet in breadth, but in some places not
above 35 feet: the banks during the high season are in many places covered with
water, they should therefore be shown by pickets. All through the marshes the
bank is not raised above 6 inches from the surface of the water, which renders it
unsafe for a steamer’s paddles, particularly as there is a current running in the
parrow parts at the rate of 3 knots per hour, with very sharp turnings every 200
yards.
All this may be avoided by cutting a canal of about 23 miles in length through
a soft loamy soil, and which might be done with great facility by the Arabs who
inhabit these marshes, and are constantly employed digging canals for irrigating
their rice fields.
These marshes end 5 miles above a creek called Karayem Inlet, which place is
well adapted for a depot. And here ends every shadow of a difficulty, as from
this place downwards there is a fine broad stream with an average depth of 3£
fathoms, and a current varying between 2 and 3 miles per hour.
In forming a steam communication by this river, I should consider Basrah to
be the best place for the lower depot, having greater facilities for that object than
Kurnah or any place between, although a sea steamer might with ease go up the
river much further than Kurnah.
From the latter place to Karayem Inlet, a distance of 184 miles, I should
propose to be navigated by a low-pressure iron steamer, her dimensions being
about 110 feet in length with 21 feet beam, and drawing not more than 5 feet
water. A vessel of these dimensions would not only be fit to navigate the river
to Karayem Inlet, but could make sea voyages if required.
From Karayem Inlet two small iron steamers should navigate the Lamlum
Marshes to the first town above them called Diwaniyah in the high season, and
in the low season they should go on to a depot, formed just above the Karablah
Rocks, where, I think, a fourth steamer should be ready to take the contents of
the two small ones up to Ja ’ber. This steamer might in the high season, meet
the smaller ones at Diwaniyah, and by this means- expedite the voyage; for the
fourth steamer being a much larger vessel would be faster than the smaller vessels.
Diwaniyah is very well adapted for a depot; it is about 68 miles above
Karayem Inlet,
The dimensions of the two small steamers should be about 65 feet in length
and 22 feet beam across the paddle-boxes, drawing not more than 2£ feet water:
they should have high-pressure engines; so that, with the above dimensions, I think
they might have a speed of 10 knots per hour.
The fourth or upper steamer should also have high pressure, her dimensions
being 100 feet in length with 26 feet bearn across the paddle-boxes, drawing not
more than 3£ feet water. Particular attention should be paid to having all the
steamers’ paddles well guarded,
I do not consider it would be practicable to navigate any part of the river above
Karayem Inlet during the night, but, with the vessels above mentioned, I think
80 miles could be made each day against the current, which would enable the
voyage from Basrah to Ja’ber to be accomplished in thirteen or fourteen'days;
and down the river, at the rate of 120 miles per day, would give nine days.
Depots for wood and bitumen should be formed every 20 miles between Ja’ber
and Hit, both of which can be obtained with great facility from the Arabs on
that part of the river, and at a very low price. From H it downwards coal should
be placed at convenient distances, according to the quantity each steamer can
carry,
During the descent, we found the Arabs not only peaceable, but even in many
instances anxious to secure our protection: this conduct towards us, however, was
caused by our formidable appearance. I t would, therefore, be advisable to have
the steamers well armed, having each one great gun, with as many swivels, small
arms, &c., as convenient.
They always evinced great eagerness to barter their provisions, and in fact
everything they possessed, for our Glasgow merchandise, which consisted of handkerchiefs
and shawls principally; so that I am convinced considerable commerce
would be carried on with great success on the river.
Taking all these things into consideration, I should say it would be highly
advisable to navigate this river, as being the speediest and most secure route
between Great Britain and her Indian possessions.
I have the honour to be, &c.,
(Signed) E, P . Charlewqod,
Mate, Royal Navy.
To Colonel Chesney, R. A.,
Commanding the Euphrates Expedition.
(K.)
Euphrates Expedition, Bushire, July 15, 1836.
Sir ,
H a v im received a request that I should give you my opinion as to the
best means of establishing a steam communication on the river Euphrates, I offer
these few remarks founded on my own observations during our descent of that
splendid river, and I do this with some diffidence as, until my connexion with
the Euphrates Expedition, I never had much turned my attention to steam
affairs.
I assume as beyond a doubt that the Euphrates is navigable at the high season
for steam-boats of build and dimensions suited to the different parts. This, the
descent of the Euphrates steamer on the falling waters between March and July
has sufficiently proved, in such a way as to leave little doubt in my mind that at
the lowest season the river could be navigated, or at all events be easily made
navigable.
The distance from Bxr to Basrah by the windings of the stream is about 1056