"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد III. ١٩١٧" [‎٢‎١‎٩] (٤٣٢/٢٢٨)

EOUTE 33
219
Miles from
jasr-i-
mirin
35
39
46i
stone building. Some 6 m. to NE. a range of low
rounded hills, at the foot of which were some ruins and
a ziyaret.)
From Sheikh Sa'id to Salahiyeh (Kufri) general direction
W.
Leave village along a good track over a broad valley
sloping gently upwards from river. Good gravelly soil.
Pass dry, gravelly bed of stream running into Gok Su.
Pass several dry ravines. Plain 6-8 m. wide, perfectly
open and bare; gravelly soil would grow good wheat
crops.
Eeach bank of Gok Su, a large stream flowing into the
Diyaleh. Gravelly bed, 200 yds. wide, with many small
channels; good clear water. Ford stream. Good soil
with a little grass on the plain: only ruined village
visible. Good soil with a little grass. Gradually ascend
a low range of hills on r. bank of Gok Su. Turn up
side valley over some low spurs. This range is called
Jebel Kushki (Dry Hill) owing to absence of water in
ravines. Best line to Salahiyeh is parallel to ridge, the
general direction of which is from NW. by N. to SE. by
S.; it is easily passable at any point. No well-defined
road, but several small paths. The range is cut up by
many gravelly ravines with strata of gypsum cropping
out here and there.
Reach crest of ridge (alt. 1,290 ft.): view back over plain
of Gok Su : no village or trees in sight. Descent winds
among steep gravelly spurs: no well-defined track; cross
several small stream-beds ; a little grass in the hollows.
Cross stream with little water in wide and stony bed ;
some clear pools. General direction of valley and
undulations 216° (between SW. and SW. by S.). Pass
a small stream and valley with some good grass. A few
ledges of sandstone rock begin to appear at intervals.
Soil improves, becoming less gravelly. Some herds of
cattle and sheep seen in 1888 ; patches of wheat between
undulations.
Leave spurs of range and emerge on level cultivated plain
of Chenimassi. Cross several sandstone ledges ; white
incrustations here and there in the soil; water sweet.
Pass Chenimassi village (100 houses) in centre of plain