ABSTRACT
The feature of Bagdad is of course the river, the Tigris, on which it stands, and that is still beautiful. On either bank, above and below the town, there is a dense grove of palm trees with gardens under them, making an agreeable approach for travellers who come by water, and setting off the yellow mud houses to their best advantage. Some of these are picturesquely built and cheerful enough, with bits of terrace and orange trees in front of them, but they are pretty rather than imposing, and there is an entire absence of really large
buildings or even of important groups of houses, while the flatness of the banks and the want of streets leading down to the river prevent one's getting any idea of the depth of the city beyond. The Tigris itself is a noble river, flowing at this time of year in a rapid turbid stream and with a breadth of perhaps three hundred yards. The houses come close down to the water's edge, and there are boats and barges 011 it, giving it altogether a rather gay appearance, but there are 110 bridges but a single one of boats, which most of the time we have been here has been taken away in anticipation of a flood.
