Underwood & Underwood 

 THE PONTOON BRIDGE ACROSS THE TIGRIS RIVER AT BAGDAD 



The circular boats, tied to the bridge, are like those which. 2.000 years ago, Herodotus 

 described as being used on the river. "The boats which come down the river to Babylon 

 are circular and made of skins. The frames, which are of willow, are cut in the country 

 of the Armenians above Assyria, and on these, which serve for hulls, a covering of skins is 

 stretched outside, and thus the boats are made, without either stem or stern, quite round, .like 

 a shield. They are then entirely filled with straw, and their cargo is put on board, after 

 which they are suffered to float down the stream. Their chief freight is wine, stored in 

 casks made of the wood of the palm tree. They are managed by two men, who stand upright 

 in them, each plying an oar, one pulling and the other pushing. The boats are of various 

 sizes, some larger, some smaller ; the biggest reach as high as 5,000 talents' burthen. Each 

 vessel has a live ass on board ; those of larger size have more than one." 



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