"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد III. ١٩١٧" [‎٢‎٣‎٣] (٤٣٢/٢٤٢)

EOUTE 35 233
Valley here 10-12 m. broad, mostly covered with grass.
The hills begin to recede to the N.
Moham village. The valley here is about 6 m. wide, with
excellent pasture. The neighbourhood is a favourite
camping-ground of nomads.
Numerous mounds indicating former settlements.
General direction of track to Halebjeh SE.
The track winds over the flat towards the hills on the
S., crossing many streams flowing in deep channels
between steep banks of clay. Liquorice root, grown here
for firewood, is plentiful.
Two streams, banks flush with the plain. One of these
streams is 100 ft. wide and 3 ft. deep, the other 40 ft.
wide and 2^ ft. deep.
The valley here is about 15 m. broad, and in the high-water
season swampy in places.
Pasture luxuriant; numerous nomad encampments and
villages with large flocks of sheep and herds of cattle.
A good many horses are to be seen.
Halebjeh, small town among gardens, which has developed
greatly in recent years. Bazaar. Head-quarters of the
Jaf Kurds. Climate hot in May ; some snow in winter.
Route to Penjevin (40 m.), very bad from Zangisar (m. 25),
From Halebjeh to Nausud (m. 68 below) the general
direction of the track is E., width 10-15 ft., leading
across the head of the valley through which it has
hitherto run, and over foot-hills.
After some miles the road narrows to 6 ft., ascending
a side valley by a good mule-track.
Head of this side valley. Alt. 3,400 ft. Gradual ascent
for some distance, after which the track becomes steeper
and more undulating.
Summit, Oak-scrub.
On either side are rolling, undulating hills and broad,
deep valleys.
The track runs high up along the sides of the hills which
border the r, bank of the Sirvan. Soil a gravelly clay,
Alt. 5,100 ft. near Bulkhah Jura. Plantations of walnut
and mulberry fill the valley. Timber (in 1886), 18-24 in.
in diameter, 30-40 ft. high,
Alt, 4,650 ft.