GOODS FLOATED DOWN THE TIGRIS. 93 



line and absence of physical obstruction. Such oppo- 

 sition as will be encountered in this section will be 

 provided by paucity of water, dust - storms, and 

 the raids of a lawless and migratory population, more 

 especially if history repeats itself, and it is found in 

 the case of the future railway, as has been found 

 in the case of those already constructed, that, to 

 use the words of Mr Hogarth, "the primary result 

 of an extension of railways in Anatolia has always 

 been an extension of brigandage." 



Mossul itself is a town of some importance, being the 

 largest centre in northern Mesopotamia ; but it is 

 hardly probable that the goods which are now floated 

 down the river on rafts will not continue to be so in 

 the future, more especially since the wood forming a 

 large portion of the raft is sold at a profit at the end 

 of the journey. Moreover, the country on the right 

 bank of the river through which the line will run is 

 almost entirely desert, roamed over by the Shammar 

 Arabs, the promoters being of opinion, seemingly, that 

 the saving of distance and modest opposition aflbrded 

 by the few dessicated waddies and low ridges en- 

 countered on the right bank more than compensate 

 for the greater promise offered by the fertile lands of 

 the left, more especially since the difference in cost 

 between the two routes is estimated at approximately 

 76,000,000 francs. As it is, there is little prospect for 

 many years to come of any greater effect from its con- 

 struction in these parts being attained than a slight 

 increase in the local reputation of the hot baths at 

 Hammum Ali and some small growth in the few mud 

 villages which hug the river bank. 



South of Baghdad the country between the two 

 great rivers is too marshy to admit of rails being laid, 

 and the Euphrates will have to be crossed once more, 



