Local afloat rafts of Iraq

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Anatol
Posts: 1033
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:13 pm

Local afloat rafts of Iraq

Post by Anatol » Wed May 15, 2013 1:39 pm

Iraq issued a stamp with a picture of the ancient afloat rafts. Quffa.Iraq. In front of stamp image round basket boat,other name “quffa”.This boat still seen occasionally on upper parts of the Tigris and Euphrates. The craft has had at least a 2,500-year history. An all-purpose boat for carrying produce, merchandise,minerals, passengers, and livestock, and for use ferryboat, lighter, or tender. Formed by concentric of interwoven layers of straw and palm fronds bound with palm-fiber rope; strengthened by curved, closely spaced ribs of split withes sewn to the walls. Large boats coated with hot bitumen outside and on the inside to level the floor; to ward off the "evil eye," cowrie shells and blue beads may be pressed in before the bitumen hardens; small boats not coated. Originally leather-covered. Bottom nearly flat; tumble home to sides; stout, cylindrical gunwale; short, wooden bars spaced along the inside on which the paddler may kneel. Paddled in deep water, stroking to left and right; poled in shallow water; going downstream, straw bumpers may be placed at the "bow," and a stone may be dragged behind to keep its head-ing. Crew of 1-2. The large class (the hessan) is 4.9-5.5m in diameter and has a capacity of 12-16t; the medium size ranges between 2.1-4.6m in diameter; the smallest (the qishir), used mainly for fishing, is 0.91-1.8m in diameter and 0.76m deep.
Chalabiya.Iraq.S. In middle of stamp image reed canoe,other name-“chalabiya”.This boat of the Marsh Arabs. Con¬structed of long bundles lashed separately and then together to form the flattened bottom. Sides created by reeds bent U-shaped, reinforced by willow wands. Upper half of the sides "planked up" inside with long bundles. Ends sharp; several stout thwarts fixed in with softened bitumen. Exterior coated with succes¬sive layers of bitumen. Last about a year. Length ca. 3.1m, beam 0.76m. Note also chalabiya.
It is cigar-shaped reed raft that is poled or paddled in the marshes of the lower Tigris River.Used mainly for hunting and fishing by 1-2 men. Reported lengths 2.44-3m; a larger type is called an 'abadije.

Kelek.Iraq
Behind of stamp image raft,other name-“kelek”.
Square or rectangular raft of inflated goat, and sometimes camel, skins. Found mainly on the Tigris River,but also on the Euphrates. In use for at least,2700 years, carrying produce, firewood, grain, pottery,wool and people. Also used in eastern Turkey,sometimes to transport military personnel and equipment. Range from 1-family rafts of 4-6 skins to larges rafts of as many as 1,600 skins that plied the Tigris between Mosul and Baghdad. Usually dismantled upon completing a trip, the poplar framework sold for lumber or firewood, and the skins deflated, retanned, and transported back upstream donkeys might be carried on board to serve as transportation home. Skins lashed to a poplar pole platform or layers of crossed branches on top of which are placed straw mats or a wooden floor. A hut may be constructed for the crew or when carrying special passengers. Skins positioned so they can be re-inflated en route by means of a reed pipe. In hot weather, the skins must be constantly splashed with water to keep them from bursting. Steered with long sweeps. Oars of split willow.Crew of 2-4. Average 3.6-4.6m long, 4.4-4,9 wide;one with 200 skins would be ca. 9m by 6m.

Iraq 2002;150dinar;SG?
Source : A Dictionary of the world’s Watercraft from Aak to Zumbra.
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Arturo
Posts: 723
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:11 pm

Re: Local afloat rafts of Iraq

Post by Arturo » Mon Apr 14, 2014 6:05 pm

Kelek

A model of transportation.
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Arturo
Posts: 723
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:11 pm

Re: Local afloat rafts of Iraq

Post by Arturo » Wed Jan 14, 2015 9:31 pm

Local Afloat Rafts of Iraq

Iraq 1963, S.G.?, Scott: 317.
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aukepalmhof
Posts: 7762
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

Re: Local afloat rafts of Iraq

Post by aukepalmhof » Mon Jan 09, 2017 1:14 am

Iraq 1923 1a sg42, scott? by Stanley Gibbons given as GUFAS
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