"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد IV .١٩١٧" [و‎‎٩‎٥] (٥٣٠/١٩٤)

EOUTES 80, 81 a
Miles from
J eziret-
ibn-
'Omar
103
1., in
i
185
which is
4 m. up.
Mouth of another short gorge from the
Gahaspur, with cultivation in terraces 1
Marsekh village with trees and cultivated terraces up to 1.
Virishin on the far bank to r.
Track rounds a cliff for 100 yds. along a roughly made
ledge close to the water.
Eound a rocky cliff, track ascending by stony ledge. Sharp
turn bringing Shattakh into view.
Teloran is at the mouth of a mountain valley from the
Gilolokan Dagh to SW.
Shattakh, 250 houses, largely Armenian. T .L. to Van.
The place is the seat of a Kaimmakam. There are
several bridges here over the Bohtan, one of wooden
trestle construction (1900) with 18 ft. roadway leading to
the Government offices ; another higher up, also of wood
on stone piers, much older, of two spans, in poor repair.
In the village is a good stone bridge, and there are other
minor bridges over the stream from the N.
The river is easily fordable in autumn.
For the tracks to Van see JRoutes 81 a and 81 b.
ROUTE 81a
SHATTAKH—VAN (38^ M.)
Via Gueandesht
Authority :— Military Report onE.T.A., vol. iii, Eoute 180 a (report of 1900).
General direction, NNE. The road goes up the Shattakh stream to
NE., crosses the high-lying plain of Gurandesht and thence descends
into the Khoshab Su valley. It crosses the stream and follows the
shore of Lake Van to Van. This is a good road for mules and in
parts is suitable for wheeled traffic, although it does not appear to be
a cart-track throughout, as it is shown on the W.O. map of 1901.
From m. 5 to m. 12 it is subject to avalanches in the spring. Fuel
can be obtained on the first part of the route, but it is scarce farther
towards the N. Water is available, but the supply may be small
during the spring and early autumn. Grazing is probably scarce.
On the Armenian population compare p. 32.