TCD MS 3414 folio 13 recto
[1915]
near Opis. At Suleiman Pak, 20 miles downstream from Baghdad & south of the Dialah river, stands the Arch of Ctesiphon: a huge structure of massive masonry, ornamented, & carved with various designs of historical events. It was built some 12,000 years ago by Chosroe King of the Medes as a palace. When the Mohammedon conquest of this region took place 700 AD; Two generals are said to have quarrelled over a certain jewled carpet said to have existed in the main room of the Arch, they divided it however but a Kalif <of Baghdad> hearing of this ordered them to give it up! <The Kalifs founded Baghdad about 700 AD.> As regards the Arab inhabitants, those living round Kurna & Basra are known as the Marsh Arab, he lives <mostly> on fish, & dwells in reed huts in the marshes, he wears practically no clothes, & spends his time looting & killing his neighbour, in short they are savages, pure & simple. The tribesmen further up river are if anything slightly more civilized, they live in tents & lead a nomad life tending flocks & growing small quantities of grain & dates which they float down to Basra for packing & export. They are cowardly cutthroats, always ready to loot & murder a wounded man, the fact is I have seen so