miles (the river being still navigable much above Bir), but for the shortest communication
with thedMediterranean, it never would be advisable to ascend higher
than about 5 miles below where the steamers lay at Beles, 963 miles from Basrah;
and it might eventually be found more advantageous to ascend no higher than
JaToer Castle, about 35 miles below Beles, which would reduce the steaming
distance from Basrah to 935 miles.
But I should consider the most eligible starting point for the river steamers would
be at or near the junction of the Tigris and Euphrates at Kiimah, 39 miles above
Basrah; and if Ja’ber were the place fixed on, the whole river navigation would
then be reduced to 896 miles the sea steamers might then come up to Kiimah
with ease.
The reasons for preferring Kiimah to Basrah are—1st. There is no bank at
Basrah alongside which a steamer might lie to take in fuel, &c.; she would be
obliged to anchor in the open river; whereas Kiimah, besides being more sheltered,
has good steep banks, both in the Tigris and Euphrates, on which splendid
wharfs might be built. 2ndly. I should imagine Kiimah to be a much more
healthy place than Basrah. 3rdly. Kiimah, from its situation, commands the
mouths both of the Euphrates and the Tigris: this in case of a hostile power
coming down either river would be an immense advantage; it would also be a
much more convenient depot for the steamers which would navigate both rivers;
for it is presumed that the navigation of the Euphrates would soon cause a line
of steamers to run also up to Baghdad.
To navigate the Euphrates properly at the high season,1 it would be requisite,
in my opinion, to have four steamers, to be thus disposed:—
A good-sized powerful steamer to start from Kiimah, and proceed 135 miles to
Karayem Inlet, just below the Lamliim Marshes, where she would meet two small
ones expressly made for navigating the marshes, the difficulties of which extend
about 50 miles by the windings of the main channel, or about 25 in a straight
line.
From Lamliim a large powerful steamer, going 11 or 12 knots, would proceed
at once and with speed to the station at Beles. It would be perhaps advisable to
have two such vessels, always keeping one at each end of the line, and one could
relieve the other in case of her being disabled, &c.
From what I have heard of the state of the river at the low season, I should
say that the large steamer might navigate from the Lamliim Marshes to Hillah at
all times, and from thence it would be necessary to have two small ones of great
power for the rest of the ascent, or the two Lamliim steamers might continue
their progress the whole way up instead of keeping them in the marshes.
In the passage from Kiimah to the Lamliim Marshes, the steamer might
draw 5 feet water, or even more, and should go at least 10 knots; it should be
bnilt of iron.
The steamers for the Lamliim Marshes ought not to exceed 65 or 70 feet in
length and 20 feet beam over the paddles, and they ought not to draw more than
1 I consider the ■navigable high season from the beginning of March to the beginning of July.
3 feet water: if intended to go up the river at the low season they should only
draw 1£ foot.
The large steamer for the high season above Lamliim might draw 3 to 3£ feet
water, and should possess great power, going 11 or 12 knots. I mention 3J feet
because I am aware of the difficulty of making a vessel of great power draw little
water without her being too large; the great weight of the boilers and engines in
proportion to the size of the vessels, being much against their being sufficiently
buoyant.
. The two steamers intended for the upper portion of the river at the low season
should certainly not draw more than 1£ foot water, should go at least 10 knots,
on account of passing the falls which occur at this period, such as Karablah, ’A'nah,
and between the bunds or irrigating parapet-walls above Hit.
They might be 90 feet long and 15 broad, or 23 feet over the paddles. As,
however, it would probably not be thought worth the expense to have these two
vessels at all, the size of those intended for the Lamliim Marshes would answer,
provided they had sufficient power.
The vessels should answer helm quickly, and their paddles ought to be protected
by being either built into the sides, or by having guards below the water
edge, like the small steamers on the Thames,
As to their armament, we found the Arabs so different from what we had
expected, and so anxious to secure our protection, that it might be lightly passed
over, did we not know that they would certainly take advantage of the vessels and
attack them if they imagined they were in a defenceless state.
They should therefore each have at least one swivel gun forward or aft, as convenient,
to fire grape and canister, with four one-pounder swivels, and two wall-
pieces; a good portion of muskets or carbines, pistols, swords, &c., for the crew,
and if Congreve rockets could be kept from spoiling by the carriage or heat, a
supply of them would be invaluable.
The smallest boat might then defy all that the Arabs could bring against her.
The engine-room should of course be amply provided with engineers, stokers,
and coal-trimmers, these last probably from Lascars; but there should always be a
sufficiency of European seamen to insure confidence in the event of a skirmish.
There should be three officers on board each vessel, as a constant look-out is
required, although, after a time, steady quarter-masters might be brought to take
care of the vessels all the way, particularly as good pilots are to be got all down
the river below Deir.
But the opening of the Euphrates, if once commenced in earnest, should be on
a liberal scale.
An agent should be placed at Beles, another at Kumah, and a third at ’A hah,
to secure the necessary depots of wood, bitumen, &c. I should also recommend
a large store of Coal to be placed at the lower extremity of the river in case of
need, otherwise wood must be rafted down from the upper part of the stream.
The impediments, such as the rocks of Karablah, those of Is Geria, and others,
should be cleared away, and a canal cut through the Lamliim Marshes.