TCD MS 3414 folio 31 recto
[June 1915]
produced a peculiar bluish tint. The population was about []000, mostly arabs but a large number of Medes from Persia were to be seen in the bazaars. The main Bazaar ran at right angles to the river, near the point where the bridge crossed the Tigris; this bridge was composed of large wooden pontoons covered with bitumen which was plentiful in Upper Mesopotamia. As for the Bazaar, it was similar to all oriental bazaars; very dirty & always crowded; small stalls existed on either side where all manner of cheap Western articles were to be bought. A shop keeper would explain with great glee that a certain string of yellow beads were “Tyeb” very good, and only Rs 5, for they had come from Bombay! There resided there a peculiar sect called Sabaeans, these people were followers of John the Baptist and their chief industry was the inlaying of <antimony> into silver; they could copy any design, and many officers had their crests & typical views from Mesopotamia inlayed on their cigarette cases. These people were very upset because, quite unintentionally, the Military Governor had interferred with their ancient custom of holding nocturnal bathing parties, for the