'Field notes: Mesopotamia. General Staff, India. February, 1917.' [‎79r] (164/350)

Route No. 6— contd.
flowing creek at mile 7, which is crossed by a bridge of 4 trestles,
20 yards long. The creek is, in dry season, 8 feet deep. From
here to mile 12, where the Sakrichah creek is reached, the track
continues a little to the west of the telegraph line and leaves
the village of Maziblah two miles to the east; the low range
of sand-hills, skirting the track to the west, and also the old
Turkish entrenched position through which it passes, forming
o-ood signal stations. The Sakrichah creek is 4 feet to 6 feet
deep. It is crossed by a bridge, 20 yards long, made of 6 wooden
trestles. The most ‘ suitable camping ground is about i mile
beyond the creek.
25 T—
road is a sand* track, rough in many places and requires
much work to make it at all easy for transport. The country
•to the west of the road is almost impassable tor all arms, being
marshy and covered with high grass. At mile 1 s ^ e ^ d *
hills 15 feet high, which form a good signal station, are passed
on the right, and, just beyond, a creek, 15 yards broad, is-
crossed by a bridge of two wooden trestles. During the next
mile three small creeks are crossed by small wooden bridges.
\t mile 3 the village of Malzum is passed on the left At
mile 44 a 15-foot mound, which forms a gwd signal statmn
is passed on the left, and at mile 5 the 1 -
the right. The road between Malzum and Sanfah ^ very
rough and difficult for wheeled transport. Just beyond
Sarifah the Suhaifah canal, a fast flowing stream, 6 feet to
8 feet deep with steep banks and 20 yards broad, is crossed
by a good firm bridge, up to 2 tons, of 6 wooden trestles. At-
mile 84 a 10 -foot mound is passed on the left, which forms
a suitable position for a signal station. At mile 94 a a
flowing creek, 12 yards broad by 4 feet deep, with steep banks,
is crossed by a 2-trestle bridge Just beyond the canal the
village of Abu Khilkhal is passed on the right At mile 10,
a 15-foot mound is passed on the left, 4 a mile from ^track,
and at miles 11 and 114 two small mud towers l5 feet big
on the right, all of which form good signal stations. At mi
12 the village of ’Azair is passed, and half a ,
a cmod camping ground is reached near Ezra s Tomb. 1
EZRA’S TOMB T. 0. . 124—General direction of
stage approximately
that of tho river. The