'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [‎273] (282/568)

(m)
COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT 273
Where it is not bridged crossings have to be made by ferry [keleks
at Shushtar and in the hills).
The Karkeh and Diz are fordable in places except in the flood
season, when they can be crossed only by Iceleh. The Shur becomes
unfordable after rain.
On the Jerrahi there are many fords in summer, and near Khal-
fabad and Cham es-Sabi it can be crossed throughout the year except
after recent rain. The Hindlyan is fordable in places to within
9 miles above Hindlyan town.
Boad Communications in
In the plains of upper Mesopotamia, which lie above the high
flood-level of the rivers, road communication is naturally far easier
than in Irak. For the most part the surface of these upland plains is
easily traversable by pack-animals, and either is practicable for
wheeled transport, or can be made so without difficulty. The going
may be heavy after rain; bridges on the larger rivers are rare;
wadis are frequent in some parts, especially under the hills, and
there are patches of marsh-land where drainage from the hills collects.
But lack of water and supplies in the steppes and the insecurity of
the country have been the chief obstacles to communication.
In the lower hill-country there are a good many fair pack-roads
between the principal centres and a few routes passable for wheels.
In the high ranges there are more or less difficult mule-tracks ;
north of the Baghdad—Kirmanshah route, roads for wheeled trans
port crossing the mountain-barrier which bounds our area occur only
between the Euphrates and Lake Van. The plains enclosed in the
highlands are often marshy and are liable to become very muddy in
wet weather. The hill-country is inadequately supplied with bridges
(see below, p. 275), and the larger streams are generally unfordable
after rain in the winter and during the spring floods caused by rain
and melted snow. In the winter roads are often blocked by snow
for days or weeks.
Before the war there were a few stretches of metalled road in
upper Mesopotamia, but these were usually allowed to fall into
disrepair, so that caravan traffic sometimes preferred the easier
beaten track. Apart from these chaussees or fragments of chaussees
the roads were unmade except here and there in the highlands where
some cutting had been done.
Since 1914 a good deal of work seems to have been done by the
Turks towards making routes on their principal lines of com
munication fit for mechanical and other wheeled transport.
mes. i o