"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد IV .١٩١٧" [ظ‎‎١‎١‎٩] (٥٣٠/٢٤٣)

234
LAND ROUTES
Miles from
Mosul
71
72^
with grassy terraces between them and the rocky ridge
behind. These hills offer a good site for defensive
works to cover the entrance to the pass and town of
Zakho from the north. At 1 hr. 51 min. the road passes
along the slope 60 ft. above the stream. For i m. there
is a retaining wall, 5 to 6 ft. high, of masonry, forming
a good 12-ft. track. The valley is narrow, with steep
clay and gravelly slopes, and occasional ledges of con
glomerate. The valley then opens, and Zakho is reached
at 2 hr, 10 min.
L. bank of Khabur. Zakho, on an island in stream.
From this point there are three ways of starting for Jezlret-
ibn-'Omar.
(a) Pass over the bridge (10-ft. roadway) which leads from
the 1. bank of the Khabur river to the island upon
which the more ancient part of Zakho is built, and then
ford the northern channel to the r. bank of the Khabur,
where stands the Christian Quarter of Zakho. This
northern channel is usually fordable for laden mules at
the end of June, but not before. On the r. bank of the
Khabur route (c), below, is joined.
(&) A second route was followed by the authority of 1903.
Descend the 1. bank of the Khabur, passing on r. the
villages of Bedar (or Dedar, 2| m.), 25 houses, and
Chammaymishko (3|m.), 1 m. to r., across the Khabur.
At 4^ m. ford the Khabur: low 1. bank, r. bank 30 ft.
high, stony bottom, 80 yds. wide, 2^ ft. deep, current
3 m. p. h. Crossing was awkward, even in the dry
season, on account of the depth of water. On the r. bank
route (c) is joined at or near Dornoch (or Lurnaq): see
m. 80^, below.
(c) The third route is that which is followed by the main
road. It proceeds up the left bank of the Khabur,
skirting conglomerate cliffs which overhang the water,
passing a backwater where rafts are built, and con
tinuing as follows.
Masonry bridge, 148 yds. long, with one central arch of
a high-pointed shape, 40-ft. span, and 40 ft. above water-
level at the centre, having two small spans on the 1.
bank, and one on the r. bank. Its roadway is 15 ft.
wide, paved with round stones, described as being
'slippery as glass'. There is no parapet, and the