"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد IV .١٩١٧" [ظ‎‎١‎٩] (٥٣٠/٤٣)

RIVER ROUTES
THE TIGRIS
EOUTE III G
DIARBEKE—MOS0L (388i m.)
AuthoritiesMilitary Report on E.T.A., vol. iii, Koute 99 (to JezIret-ibn-'Omar,
report of a journey by raft in April 1903 : from Jeziret to Mosul, report of
a journey by raft in October 1892). Report of a journey by raft from
Diarbekr to Jeziret in June 1907. D. Fraser, Short Gut to India (Journey
of 1908).
The Tigris over this portion of its course is only navigable by
JceleJcs (rafts) floated downstream. Because of this fact the upstream
itinerary followed in previous volumes is departed from for this
section of the river, and an account is given of its navigation and
other features downstream from Diarbekr to Mosul.
At Diarbekr the Tigris spreads out to some extent on entering the
small level tract opposite that town, and in seasons of flood attains
a width of 250-300 yds. The country through which it flows
immediately after leaving Diarbekr is a stretch of mud hills and
stony desert, the mud banks being the haunt of hosts of water-birds.
The snow-capped mountains of Kurdistan are just visible on the
horizon, with low undulating land extending towards them. The
Tigris flows here in wide curves. The banks are thinly peopled, and
the country about them only partially cultivated, but there are rich
pasture grounds occasionally resorted to by nomad tribes. The
mud banks at times give way to steep rocky sides, in the walls of
which are often found rock-tombs. Here and there the narrow bed
of the river widens over flats of sandstone. Sheep, goats, cattle, and
buffaloes are seen on the banks or in the stream. Immediately
after its junction with the Batman Su the river becomes narrower
and deeper, and flows so rapidly through winding gorges that careful
steering is required to avoid rocks and whirlpools. Between Bediyeh
B