'ROUTES IN PERSIA. SECTION II.' [‎33] (58/122)

83
R out a No. Vt—contd.
No.
of
stage.
11
12
13
14
miles.
Names of stages.
Inter
mediate.
E bmabks.
Total.
Javiersub
B itlis
i ADWiN
Akhlat
27
30
15 Kojeei
16
17
E ksabap
K ara K han
16
23
23
25
27
218
248
264
287
310
335
362
traversed between Mosul and Jazirah is much
frequented by Kurdish tribes, which in summer
disappear northwards in search of pasture.
It has often been proposed to make a military road
from Jazirah by Sert to Bitlis, and strategically
this is much needed. No very great difficulties
would be experienced in engineering a carriage
road from Jazirah as far as Sert.
Population of Sert is variously stated at from
7,000 to 14,000. Fuel is scarce, and water-supply
poor.
Road from Sert is an up-pnd-down track over ridges
and ravines with some steep gradients, but a
good mule-path. The hills are huge undulations
with no wood, but plenty of small streams. Ja-
viersur is a small village.
Road descends by 1-foot track, then becomes very
steep (i), then over ridges and valleys. At about
j 8 miles bridge over Bitlis Su. Trees are fairly
abundant. Road is a 10 feet easy track. At 30
miles up a steep ascent to Bitlis. The town has
about 30,000 inhabitants. Houses are of strne,
mostly double-storjed. Bazaars are well supplied.
The Bitlis Su is roughly embanked through the
town (bed 20 feet to 30 feet deep) and crossed by
wooden bridges of 30 feet span at places; there
are 32 of these and as many mills. The climate
is very severe in winter.
Good track 10 feet wide up Bitlis ravine. At about
3 miles the road to Mush bearing 355° over
plain, at first cut up by ravines to Tadwan. 50
houses. Carts are plentiful.
Road skirts the lake, bad going, crossing ridges
from Sipan Dagh. At about 6 miles pass Khis-
vak ; 60 or 70 houses. Cross several streams 10
to 15 feet wide. At 23 miles Akh'at ; good water
and gardens ; 100 houses. The low border hills of
the lake are of red clay and much cut up.
Road undulates over skirts of the hills along the
lake. Some of the ascents and descents are steep
{^). At 10 miles Aljawaz, a small walled town.
The country is mostly cultivated. Pass Circas
sian village Ardiah to Kojeri over tilled fields ;
good mule track. The boats here are flat-
bottomed, 20' by 10' with a 12' mast. Reach
Van in 12 to 24 hours with a wind. Some of
them hold 30 men. Only 10 houses at Kojeri.
Road skirts fhe hills; all the plain is cultivated.
Pass several villages to Eksaraf, 60 houses.
Road over hills, gradients easy over cultivation to
Agantz, 200 or 300 houses, at 12 miles. Lake
is 2^ miles from town. Good 18 feet road, skirt
ing lake to Kara Khan, 40 houses.