"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد III. ١٩١٧" [‎٢‎٦‎٣] (٤٣٢/٢٧٢)

ROUTE 42
263
the village. 2 m. NE. is a well-marked rocky ridge,
rising 400 to 500 ft., covered with low oak shrubs, and
extending towards Koi Sanjaq. Kermanji or Kurdish
only spoken here in 1902. No one knew Turkish.
Zaptiehs usually can act as interpreters. Plenty of
open space suitable for camping troops. Water from
the springs. Firewood from ridge to N. Supplies in
small quantities. Sheep and cattle from nomad tribes.
Time from Erbil, 5-5| hrs. The times given in brackets
from this point to Degareh are from Mil Report ; the
distances cannot be exactly estimated.
Keep parallel to the ridge, avoiding deep ravines to the r. _
Cross ravine with stream from a spring (20 min.). Baqli
village, 20 huts, ^ m. down this ravine.
Cross several shallow ravines (30 min.). iLgliliai, 10 huts,
i m. to r., down a ravine with stream, which is crossed.
Eidge 1| m. to the 1. covered with oak scrub.
Cross broad stony bed of ravine, dry October 1902 (47
min.). Cross a stream. Good level track.
Cross a larger ravine with short steep descent (1 hr. 5 min.).
Descend steeply by short zigzags among rocks into a large
ravine with the Zazir Su flowing SW. from a gap in the
ridge to the 1. (1 hr. 25 min.). Another ridge is visible
through the gap, parallel to the first. Stream-bed 30 yds.
broad and nearly dry (October 1902), the water being
diverted into irrigation canals. Cotton cultivation.
Degareh (1 hr. 50 min.), 40 houses on the slope of the 1.
bank, up which the track steeply winds. Level track
when the ravine is passed. Gradient would require
improving here for wheels.
Track rough and stony, but level.
Cross a stream in a broad ravine, going SW.
A cluster of houses at the foot of the ridge, i rn. to the 1.,
near a spring. Cross several shallow ravines, dry in
October 1902, but containing water in spring. Good
soil, but little cultivated. Near here would be a good
site for camping troops. Water from ^ spring near
Tatawwul and streams. Firewood from ridge to the N.
Supplies scarce. Track rough, but passable tor guns.
Rocky mound to r., 30 min. farther on. Then cross dry
ravine (35 min.); a rough stony track continues to three
dry ravines (1 hr.), and later another (1^ hr. ; 10 min.