"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد III. ١٩١٧" [‎٢‎١‎٨] (٤٣٢/٢٢٧)

218
Miles from
lasr-i-
hirin.
25i(?)
29A(?)
LAND ROUTES
bricks) surrounded by fruit gardens. Close by is a lar^e
ruin mound, containing bricks which in 1888 were being
dug out by natives for building purposes. Inhabitants
of this valley are Bagilan, half Arab, half Kurd, wearing
Arab dress. Extending S. from here is a well-cultivated
plain 8-10 m. long, dotted with several villages, each
surrounded by an orchard. Another ruin mound 1 m.
to r. From Hamr'ala cross plain to NW., approaching
the Diyaleh. Soil fertile, irrigated by numerous small
canals; narrow track through tall grass and cornfields.
Pass Shaki village, 250 houses in 1888, including some
good two-storied buildings, but apparently suffering from
Hamawand raids; low mud wall breached in several
places round village. Good crops of wheat and rice
grown in this valley. Eafts constructed here for passage
of the river in 1888: none ready-made. On nearing
river enter belt of tall hedges and osiers extending to
river-bank.
Diyaleh Eiver. The river flows in a wide gravelly bed,
with several channels. The course taken by the stream
varies from year to year, and also the point for crossing.
Rafts can only take light loads in high water. Mules
and horses have to be swum across. When the river
was crossed in 1888 there were broad sedgy flats and
creeks on the 1. bank, and on the r, low gravel cliffs
25 ft. high, with ruins of small village. The main deep
channel was then near r. bank, and the other channels
were fordable. Opposite ford the ruins of a small village.
Route from r. bank passes low gravelly undulations
covered with a little grass. Soil improves, and, later,
cultivation (wheat and barley) is to be seen. No cultiva
tion or irrigated ground on r. bank, which rises rapidly
to some low undulations on the 1. Pass dry gravelly
bed of ravine from 1. On nearing Sheikh Sa'id cross
rich soil, unirrigated, growing good wheat and barley.
Easy track between fields.
Sheikh Sa id, 150 mud huts : Kurds. Cultivation in
a sort of basin of 3-4 m. radius round village. Plain
quite treeless. Water-mill turned by a small irrigation-
cut. (On river bank 3 m. from Sheikh Sa'id is Qal'ah
Slur wan, in 1888 winter residence of a Jaf chief, a fine