Page 258 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

232 Part III.
201. Tho Locnl Government did not seem to liavo realized in their anxiety
to ward off an immediate danger what the consequences would hoof throwing an
obstruction across (lie Tigris, which in ordinary seasons on tho melting of snow
in the mountains rises in twenty-four hours twolvo or fourteen foot, spreading
over the surrounding country and forming an inland sea, in which the channol
of tho river is only distinguishable to the practised eye of tho Arab pilot. Tho
Vali considered tho immediate demands
Political A., November 1879, No. 132.
of tho agricultural tribes on the river
banks of paramount importanco, hut fortunately when all was in readiness
for tho construction of a dam, representations by wire made to the Sublime
Porto had the desired effect and the work was prohibited by orders from Con­
stantinople.

(v) Movements of the Comet north of Baghdad opposed by the Porte,
1885-

262. In 1885, Mr. Plowdon was conveyed by the Comet up the river
Secret E., July 1S85. Nos. 232*255. Tigris on a tour, which was to extend
Secret K., Oc'.olcr 1835, Km. 110-125. as far as Takrit, but at a short dis­
tance from abovo that town, she went ashore and got stranded. The tour
had been approved of by the Government of India and the British Ambassador.
Tho Porte, however, protested against the movements of the Comet on t.ho
Tigris above Baghdad. The Marquis of Salisbury explained to the Turkish
Ministor that the Consul-General had proceeded up the Comet to visit one of
his consular districts, and trusted that no opposition would bo raised again to
the slationairc of the Consulate ascending the river for tho samo purpose, pro­
vided notice bo previously given to the local authorities.

(vi) Alleged intention of the Turkish authorities to construct a canal
on the Tigris, 1886-87.

263. In their letter No. 18, dated 22nd September 1886, Messrs. Lynch &
Co. drew the Consul-Goncral’s attention
External A., January 18S7, No*. 102*115.
to a large canal which was being dug
on the Tigris, which when completed, they feared, would stop all traffic between
Baghdad and Basrah and consequently suspend all trade betwoeu England and
Persia {sic) by this route.
264. The following description of the canal is extracted from their letter :—
" The canal in question is about an hour’s steaming below Kutu'l Amara, nnd we enclose
herein a sketch of that part of the river, showing tho precise position of the cutting, which is
to l»o 10,0U0 metres long, and is being made 15 metres broad at tho top, G to 7 at the bed, and
metres in depth, from which dimensions you will spc that the canal is on a vpty largo
rcalfl. From the drawing inclosed you will understand that tho object of the undertaking is to
carry the water into an old ennal called Dujaila, the land through which this canal passes hav­
ing been rcconlly purchased for IIis Imperial Majesty the Sultan and the water intended for
irrigation. The entrance to the old canal was originally some distnocc further down, and was
cut io such a manner that the river supplied the canal with water in passing ; hut the present
cutting is made were tho whole strength of the current will set right into it. Tho'banks there
are composed of 6oft clay and sand ; and just opposite the ojK'ning to the canal is a large sand­
bank, which v/ill serve to guide the water into the new cutting. Tho immense rush of wntor
will soon eat away the soft banks, and the river will undoubtedly all How into tho new canal,
and thence expend itself in the vast marshes between Amara and the river Euphrates, leaving
tho Tigris practically quite dry in precisely the same manner as the former, once mighty rivor,
has been reduced to a mere ditch by the culling of the Iliudia canal, which it iB now intnnded
to close if possible, at a cost of something like £l(JO,0()U. If the now cutting is completed, the
new thriving town of Amara, yielding a large revenue to tho Government, nnd the numerous
tribes of Arabs on the banks of the river below Kut, will all be completely ruinod.”
265. The facts were brought lo tho notice of llis Majesty’s Government,
ami the Embassy was requested to coinmunicato with tho Porto. Wo do not
kuow what action was taken or whether tho canal was ever completed.