"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد IV .١٩١٧" [و‎‎١‎٦] (٥٣٠/٣٦)

INTRODUCTION 27
Eastern Taurus the easiest seems to be the col over the Ziyaret
Dagh N, of Lijjeh across which runs a route used by mule-caravans
in summer going between Diarbekr and Erzerum. For an account
of the road between Diarbekr and Lijjeh see 104. Lijjeh
is also connected with Farqln and the Batman Bridge by a fair
road {Boutes 105,106). Mule-tracks also run from Diarbekr to Plran
and Haini west of Lijjeh, from which paths over the hills can be
reached (see Boutes 108, 107).
A number of roads passable for wheels, running over plains or
rolling downs, connect Diarbekr with Sairt and Ziyaret, and thus
with the Bitlis Gorge, the main approach to Mesopotamia from the
NE. The roads between Bitlis and Sairt or Ziyaret are discussed on
p. 18. The Diarbekr—Sairt road bifurcates near Ermi, one branch
going by Ridhwan and the Nasr ed-Dln Koprii, the other leading north
of the Bekhan Dagh by Hop. Both were before the war passable for
wheels though some improvement was needed here and there. The
road by the Nasr ed-Dln Kopru seems to have been somewhat the
easier. It was connected with Til by a branch from Ridhwan.
Before the war the only practicable bridge on these routes was that
called the Nasr ed-Dln over the Bitlis Su. The Batman, the Hazo,
the Bitlis, and the Keser Su are the principal streams crossed. These
can be forded with ease in low water, but are impassable in flood-
time. The limits of the flood season vary from year to year : but as a
general rule the rivers are in flood from March to the end of June ; the
Batman remains high after the others—perhaps till the middle of
July. The streams other than those mentioned above are insignifi
cant except after heavy rains (see 102 a, b).
The principal route from Diarbekr to Zokh and Ziyaret and thence
to Bitlis is that which runs by Parqln and the great bridge over the
Batman (the Batman Kopru). Along this line the Diarbekr—Bitlis
chaussee has been laid. The road is easily passable for wheels. Of
the unbridged streams which are crossed the chief obstacle is the
Hazo Su. Another road to Zokh follows the Diarbekr—Sairt road
to Ermi, and there diverges NE., crossing the Desht-i-Keri. It is
passable for all arms, and is shorter than the route by the Batman
KOprti; but by this way it is necessary to ford the Batman as well
as the Hazo (see Routes 103 a, b).
Routes between the lineDiarbehr—Mardln —The
principal road between Diarbekr and the Euphrates is that which
passes north and west of the Qarajeh Dagh by Severek and Hovek to
Birijik. The country traversed is generally level or easily undulating,
except among the northern spurs of the Qarajeh Dagh. The road is
i Ji passable for wheels though not good after heavy rains. Between