2 So Bcdoidn Tribes of the EitpJwates. 



out a prodigious outlay in the form of waterworks. 

 To reconstruct entirely the Babylonian system of 

 •canals is financially impossible, even for the richest 

 country in the world at the present day ; and with- 

 out irrigation not a blade can a;row. 



The only practical scheme for improving the com- 

 munications between the Mediterranean and the 

 Persian Gulf is, in my opinion, the establishment of 

 a line of steamers on the Euphrates. This, if pro- 

 perly managed, might do effectual good, and even 

 be made to pay its expenses. The river is navi- 

 c;able for boats drawiucf eioliteen inches of water 

 nearly all the year round ; ond Midhat's boats failed 

 only because they were too large. A line of 

 .steamers would sufficiently supply the wants of 

 local traffic, and could afford to do so at a far 

 cheaper rate than any railroad. Steam navigation 

 would be free of danger from Bedouin interference ; 

 and the tamarisk j'crub would long- afford an excellent 

 supply of fuel. Such a scheme, however, v/ould be 

 •of little use to India. 



Water communication established, and Turkish 

 .abuses reformed, the present system of government . 

 might well be left to work out the natural develop- 

 ment of the country, though this could not be 

 rapid. I have no sympathy with the Turks in 

 Arabia, and still less with their administration. 

 It is utterly corrupt ; but I do not think their theory 

 of government there is a bad one. The protection 

 of the peaceable tribes and the repression of the war- 



