BITS ABOUT BAGDAD.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 121, 23 May 1916, Page 2

BITS ABOUT BAGDAD.

ENCHANTED CITY OF ARABIAN NIGHTS.

Immortalised by Haroun al-lJas-jchid, in the story of the Arabian I Nights, Bagdad, which has a population of about 150,000, was built on the ruins of an ancient Babylonian city dating back to 2000 B.C. Records hav> been found on ancient bricks establishing its early date. Ever since the days of Haroun jilRaschid the Jews have been the leading figures in the commercial world of Bagdad. There are 50,000 of them, with about 8000 Chaldean (or heretical) Christians. The remainder of the population is made up of Persians. Turks, Armenians, Arabs, and Kurds.

Sinbad the Sailor was born at Bagdad, and all his marvellous adventures begin by his going down the Tigris to Bussorah (the modern Basra'), the way tho British Expedition has :ome up. Militarily. Bagdad is of no groat importance, but the moral impression which its fall will make on the Arab and Persian frontier tribes will be verv

great. Of late years many European houses have settled agents in the city. and Britain, France, and Russia h.ava consuls there. Dates, wool, grain, and timbae ( a substitute for tobacco) are exported, and n number of horses are sent to India.

I The fity stands on both sides of i the Tigris the two parts being connected lb}- the famous bridge of boats, 200 yds. long. A brick wall, five miles in circumference and 40ft high surrounds Bagdad. The city contains upwards of 100 raos"ues, though barely twenty (;f them arc ; :i nse. The houses generally are old, dirty, and ugly outside, but the vaulted eilings, rich mouldings. Inlaid mirrors, r.nd massive gildings bring back to Hie recollection of the traveller "the golden prime of good Harouu al-Eas-ehid." Tlie streets are narrow, cooked mip/ved, and dirty, full of ruts and strewed with garbage, which, however, is for the most part removed by dogs, ';-e public, scavengers of the Fast". In 1902 an irade from tlie Sultan <>fve rowers to a German company to construct a railway from Konieh to Basra by Bagdad through the Euphrates valley ■>. total distance of 1300 miles. A company was floated a! Frankforl "n 1903, with a capital of *150,000 to 'oiistruet tli" first section, und this "M completed and opened in 100-1 Since then several important sections have been constructed.