"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد III. ١٩١٧" [‎٢‎٥‎٠] (٤٣٢/٢٥٩)

1
250
Miles from
Sulei-
maniyeli
m
45
47
47i
48
49|
50^
51
52i
54i
54^
LAND ROUTES
Reach the Lesser Zab, 150-200 yds. wide, with a swift
current over a gravelly bottom.
The track ascends the river valley. Good grass on the
slopes.
Qal ah Dukhan, dismantled fort 60 yds. square, with
round flanking towers, on a knoll overlooking the stream.
The heights above command it.
Dukhan (or Du Kani, ' two springs'), small khan with a
few houses.
Dukhan ferry, one Jceleh Horses and mules have to be
swum. A backwater on each bank helps the crossing.
The valley is 400 yds. wide. On the r. bank spurs come
close to the water's edge. River 150 yds. wide ; fordable
in l.w. Deep and rapid in h.w. The Tang-i-Dukhan,
through which it emerges, is 1 m. up-stream.
Track now leaves the river and skirts the low hills bordering
the valley. Abundant grazing on the hill-sides.
Track turns to the 1. shortly before the Tang-i-Dukhan over
a rounded spur with small ravines. Soil shale, with
some gypsum.
Summit. Alt. 1,750 ft. Diagonal descent by a steep
gradient.
Gradient 1 in 3 to 4, following 3 ft. ledge in the clay for
300 yds. A road fit for wheels could be improvised. Alt.
1,360 ft.
Ford a tributary of the Zab, 15 ft. wide, 1 ft. deep (l.w.).
Gulnari, 60 houses of Kurds, on the opposite bank. Pome
granate, fig, and vine cultivation. Large flocks of sheep
and goats on the hills. Some cattle. Good grass.
Track good, following the river, here 50 yds. wide, but
becoming broader farther on.
Undulating easy track. Some wheat cultivation. Track
inclines to 1. and ascends a small side-valley, leaving the
river.
The Kutsrut Dagh, high range, to the N. Lower slopes
rounded and grassy : higher, rugged and sparsely wooded.
Track divides, the lower branch being the easier. The other
ascends to the 1. through two small villages up the
Kutsrut Dagh and reaches the plain farther N.
Skirt a shale hill to the 1. by a well-worn ledge 2 ft. wide.
Then ascend a broad spur from the Kutsrut Dagh.