"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد III. ١٩١٧" [‎٢‎١‎٧] (٤٣٢/٢٢٦)

EOUTE 33
217
Miles from
lasr-i-
ITItl
20i
a light loam, growing wheat and barley well, also
rice.
General direction NNW. to Salahi. Follow easy track
over undulating gravelly plain. Cross dry bed of stream,
100-150 yds. wide, running south towards the Diyaleh.
Ascend a flat-topped ridge which here crosses the plain :
track only very slightly defined. The northern side slopes
very gradually towards the Diyaleh Valley. Grass on
hill-slopes poor, but improves nearer the valley. Track
easy and gravelly.
Salahi village, ^ m. to r. of track, surrounded by three
large orchards and cultivation.
General direction to Sheikh Sa'id on farther side of
Diyaleh, K (Another Sheikh Sa'id is passed just after
leaving Salahi.)
With regard to this stage there appears to be some
confusion in the route-book, and possibly in the W.O.
map, sheet 38. The distance given between Salahi and
Sheikh Sa'id in Routes in Persia vol. ii, no. 72, is 20 miles.
This seems to be too long, unless a very considerable
detour is made, of which there is no mention in the
report. On the other hand, Hamrala is marked on the
map as lying to the S. of Salahi, whereas the Sheikh
Sa'id which is passed near Salahi is placed about WSW.
of Salahi, between it and the Diyaleh. The Diyaleh
Kiver at about 5 m. from Salahi, on bearing 26° (slightly
E. of NNE.), breaks through a ridge in the hills and
emerges into the plain.
Cross large canal which runs through Salahi and irri
gates country between it and river by numerous minor
cuts. Canal 20 ft. broad and about 2 ft. deep.
On the eastern bank the ground slopes up, and is
drier and less cultivated. Clay track 15-20 ft. wide,
through wheat fields, follows r. bank of canal. Pass
deep irrigation cut 8 ft. wide and sunk 6-8 ft. below
the surface. It is crossed by rough bridge of tree
trunks with fascines and earth: there are several of
these little bridges, otherwise the canal would be difficult
for laden mules. Several mills dotted about the plain,
each with a loopholed watch-tower some 30 ft. high.
Pass Hamr'ala village (150 houses, some well-built of