"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد I. ١٩١٨" [‎٢‎٥‎٧] (٥٦٨/٢٦٦)

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPOET
257
I. Kirmanshah — Baghd via Khanihin
About 220 miles. A great trade-route. Eailway, Baghdad—Khani-
kin, about 94 miles ; metre gauge. Eoad passable for wheels, except
after heavy snow or rain in winter.
[Tabriz—Baghdad via Bijar, Sain Qal'ah, and Kirmanshah, about
565 miles. This follows the main caravan-route from Tabriz to
Kirmanshah, which is passable for camel-transport, and has been
used by Persian artillery.
Tabriz—Baghdad via Sakiz, Senna, and Kirmanshah, about
530 miles.
Tehran—Baghdad via Hamadan and Kirmanshah, about 520 miles.
Passable for wheels except after heavy snow or rain in winter.]
II. Routes North of the Main —
None of these is passable for wheels throughout. The principal are:
(а) Urmia—Mosul via Ushnu, Jildigan, Shinawa (Lahjan plain),
the Giru-i-Sheikh Pass, Eayat, Eowanduz (about 220 miles). From
Shinawa to Eowanduz (about 90 miles from Mosul) and perhaps as
far as Baba Chichek (about 63 miles from Mosul) this route is fit for
pack-animals only, and is liable to be blocked by snow in winter. It
was used for a move on Urmia by Khalil Bey in the summer of 1915.
[The road from Ushnu to Eowanduz by the Kelishin Pass is some
16-20 miles shorter than that by the Oiru-i-Sheikh Pass, but it is
more difficult.
Tabriz—Mosul via Ushnu and Eowanduz, about 315 miles.
Tabriz—Mosul via Suj Bulaq, Shinawa, and Eowanduz, about
300 miles.]
(б) Urmia—Eaniyeh (for Altun Koprii and Baghdad, or Erbil and
Mosul) via Ushnu, Jildigan, the Lahjan plain, the Wazneh Pass,
and Derbend (about 150 miles). Between the Lahjan plain and
Eaniyeh this route is fit for pack-animals only. Liable to be blocked
by snow in winter.
[Eaniyeh—Baghdad via Altun Koprii and Kufri, about 270 miles ;
passable for wheels, or could be made so without difficulty.
Eaniyeh—Baghdad via Altun Koprii, the Lesser Zab, and Tigris.
By road to Altun KSprii (about 65 miles), and thence by
Eaniyeh—Mosul via Erbil, about 115 miles ; passable for wheels.]
(c) Banah—Eaniyeh via Ser Desht (about 135 miles). Pack-road
from Ser Desht (mile 35).
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