"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد III. ١٩١٧" [‎١‎٦‎٣] (٤٣٢/١٧٢)

ROUTE 25 a
163
Miles from
Baghdad
2141
215
216|
2171
218
(Mileage continued from Route i, above.)
The Baghdad—Mosul road leaves Altun Kopru in a NNW.
direction up the valley of the Injesui, a tributary of the
Lesser Zab. This valley contains corn-land, and is
enclosed on either side by low hills, which form a
semicircle to the front. Those 1. of the road rise about
500 ft. above the road ; those to r. are lower.
Pass a copse (1903) on 1. of road. General character of
country to Qush Tepeh is open, fairly well cultivated,
undulating to hilly. Road is stony but easy.
Apparently in this neighbourhood the line of the semi
circle of hills which close in on the river is reached.
Direct Mosul road avoiding Erbil turns 1. (So Report
on Route, 1910: W.O. Map, following a description
of 1873, marks this route as diverging about 4 m.
farther on.) It is described as an easy route through
fairly well-populated country: water from wells and
streams. For Zab ferry at Quweir see p. 69.
The track to Makhmur and Qal'ah Sherghat (see 27)
is marked on map as diverging to the 1. about 1J m.
farther on : but further information on this point should
be obtained.
In this neighbourhood a bend of the Injesui is apparently
crossed (28 mins. ride from Altun Koprii): another
bend is crossed 4 mins. later, and a third touched
3 mins. after the second. * In April 1910 there were
only a few inches of water in the stream.
Apparently there is an alternative track over the downs
to r. not far from the river: it crosses the bed of the
Iliujak Chai, a tributary of the Injesui (20 ft. wide,
1 ft. deep in February 1903).
Direct Mosul road about ^ m. 1. (?). Near it is the hamlet
of Makhsumeh. (12 Kurdish houses). Between the two
roads is a mill.
Open undulating country. T.L. (two wires) crosses from
1. to r. of the road.
Descent into hollow ; bend of Injesui is touched. (In this
neighbourhood is the Birinji Chai, a mountain torrent
entering the Injesui on 1. bank. There were 90 yds. of
shingle and about 2 ft. of water in pools in February
1903.)
h 2