BASSORA, bas-so'ra, or BASRAH, bas'ra, Turkey in Asia, a city situated between two and three miles on the west side of and on a navi gable canal leading about two miles from the Shat-el-Arab, as the united stream of the Tigris and Euphrates is called, about half way between the Persian Gulf and the junction of the two rivers. Merchants from Arabia, Turkey, Ar menia and Greece, also Jews and Indians, re side here, and it is the station of a United States consul. The Arabs are more numerous than the Turks, and their language is chiefly spoken. The city is surrounded by a wall about 10 miles in circuit, 20 to 25 feet thick. The houses are generally mean, partly constructed of clay, and the bazaars are miserable edifices. A considerable trade is carried on. Mail steamers run between Bombay and Bassora, and there are also other steamers trading here. Dates form the principal export; camels and horses, galls, gum, carpets, wool and wheat are also exported; total exports over $5,000,000 an nually. The imports are coffee, rice, spices, textiles, etc. The trade of the interior is con ducted by means of caravans. The town is
dirty and unhealthy; the environs are very fer tile. The modern Bassora arose in the 17th century, and does not occupy the site of the older town, whose ruins lie about nine miles southwest of it. Turkey entered the war 1 Nov. 1914, and on the 5th Great Britain declared war. A contingent of English and native troops sent by the government of India were already waiting in the Persian Gulf. On 7 November the British landed at Fao, on the Shatt-el-Arab, and occupied the village. Sail ing 30 miles farther up the estuary they dis embarked at Sanijeh, occupied that place and Sahain, and encountered the main Turkish force at Sahil, 14 miles from Basrah, on 17 November. The Turlcs were routed in a short battle with heavy loss, and on 23 Nov. 1914 the British entered Basrah unopposed. See WAR, EUROPEAN : TURKISH CAMPAIGN. Pop. about 80,000. The vilayet of Bassora has an area of 53,580 square miles, and a population of about 600,000.