"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد III. ١٩١٧" [‎٢‎٤‎٩] (٤٣٢/٢٥٨)

(ip
EOUTE 38 249
Miles from
Snlei-
maniyeh
34 Surdash, 100 houses divided by a rocky spur, at the foot
of Askut Dagh. This mountain rises 2,000 ft. above the
village in a steep wall of rock with a jagged summit.
It is quite impassable.
Two large springs irrigating orchards. Abundant grazing
on the hill-sides. Many oaks and poplars.
The track is now stony and winding, and runs parallel to
the Askut Dagh.
35| Track crosses small stream lined with mulberry and fig-
trees. Vine cultivation. Then follows descent over
stony spurs.
36| Small V-shaped valley on r. with orchards and vineyards.
Track stony and rugged.
37 Cross broad spur. Alt. 2,750 ft. Track easier.
38i Steep, narrow descent, with short zigzags among boulders.
G-aichina village, 50 houses on a plateau. A small stream
lined with orchards of pomegranates, figs, and vines runs
through the village. Alt. 2,555 ft. Fertile ravines near.
Sarka Kailkusma Dagh, ridge to SW. Wheat cultivation
on the lower slopes. Oaks and brushwood in the ravines.
Villages high up.
Track for ^ m. descends steeply along a 10-ft. ledge in the
hill-side.
39-| Easier slope through wheat-fields; along a lane with low
stone walls. Alt. 2,125 ft.
Some huts ^ m. to r. high up on the hill-side.
39| Cross narrow stream from a gorge in the Askut Dagh,
40 Oaks, poplars, and orchards on a large stream to r. fiowing
to the Lesser Zab. Eliani Khan village, 40 huts, in this
neighbourhood,
40i Good 12-ft. field-track, following general line of valley
towards the Lesser Zab. Alt. 1,900 ft.
41§ Cross stream lined with terraced vineyards and orchards.
Valley fertile and well wooded. Track easy.
41| Pass ziydret in a grove of oaks. These surround the shrine.
The trees in such cases are never cut. Track undulates
over stony spurs from the r. Alt. 1,700 ft.
42| Pass village of 30 houses high up to r. at base of cliff. The
Askut Dagh now ends in low rounded hills.
42| Steep zigzag descent for 200 yds. over bare shale spurs.
Soil is a soft grey shale.