'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. II. 1917' [‎488] (499/542)

188 APPENDIX D
the channel, but how far they have done so, and whether their
measures are likely to benefit up-stream navigation, is not known.
According to one report their improvements consist mainly in the
destruction of some naurs.
There is shakhtur traffic down-stream. Navigation by steamers
down-stream would, under the conditions existing before the war,
have been dangerous in mean water, and practically impossible in
low water. The Germans besides improving the channel have
established a river-port at Jerablus, and have used the river in an
increasing degree for stores, munitions, and in 1916 for troops
(vol. iii of this Handbook, JRoutes IV E-H).
The Baghdad—Aleppo road joins the Euphrates at Fellujeh and
leaves it at Meskeneh. Before the war the road was passable for
wheels throughout, though unmetalled except in the stretch near
Beii, and therefore rough in parts. It may have been improved
since the war. There are bridges at Fellujeh and Deir and a railway-
bridge above Meskeneh at Jerablus (vol. iii, for the left
bank, see JRoute 47 ; for the railway-bridge, vol. iv, p. 416).
On the N., the Euphrates valley can be approached from the line
of the Baghdad railway by the line of the Belikh and the Khabur,
which have water throughout the year. The ground in the neighbour
hood of the streams, though marshy here and there, is generally
open and easy (vol. iii, Boute 49 c (part), and vol. iv, 125,
132 a ? b).
On the S. there is a desert route to Hit from Kerbela by the oases
of Shifatheh and Eahallyeh (see Route 17 in this volume, and vol. iii,
Boute 51), and another from Baghdad to Anah, very poorly supplied
with water, but affording fairly good going : it has been traversed by
a motor-car (vol. iii, Boute 48).
N. of the line Baghdad—Pellujeh the country between the Tigris
and the Euphrates is very arid, until the neighbourhood of the
Sin jar hills is approached. There are also desert routes (apparently
with little or no good water) between the Tigris at Samarra and
Teknt and the Euphrates at Hit and Anah. Hardly anything is
known of them. Farther north a number of wadis carrying water
in winter and spring run down from the Sinjar into the plains.
Thus the easiest line between the rivers N. of the Baghdad Fel
lujeh road is that from Deir to Mosul, passing under or not far
from the Sinjar hills: but this line is probably not well enough
watered to be practicable for infantry in summer, and is obstructed
by the obstacle of the Khabur. (See vol. iii. 49 a-d, 50.)
As regards approaches from the W., the best-watered routes across
the desert from Syria come in at Deir (or at Meyyadln not far below).
H