Historical Geography. 1900. Iraq. Mosul's shops are mostly poor, and disproportionate grandeur is given to this fruit-seller's scantily furnished emporium by the good casement windows, topped by elaborate iron fan tracery. His stock includes some fine melons, which, with other gourds and vegetables, are grown to perfection in the islands and dry portions of the river-bed of the Tigris during the season of low water.