"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد IV .١٩١٧" [و‎‎٧‎١] (٥٣٠/١٤٦)

ROUTE 68 b
137
Miles from
Ama-
diyeh
82i
35i?
37
40i
i m. long : here the track follows a causeway a few feet above the
water level. It then ascends a s 100 yds. in length, follows
the edge of a ravine to E. along a narrow ledge of rock for about
400 yds., crosses the ravine and follows its other or r. bank back
to the river. Beyond this it goes along the edge of the precipice
by a very narrow and dangerous path, crosses a spur and descends
again to the Zab at the Nestorian village of Bitoannis (Bes lonnis?),
at 4 m. It then crosses the Qara Su, crosses a ridge and descends
to a wicker-bridge over the Zab at 5 m. From this bridge it ascends
by a badly-defined track, crosses a flat-topped spur, descends by zig
zags a debris-covered slope to the village of Chumbi de Susina. at
6i m. ; 20 houses with good cultivation. From here the track,
passing a valley from WSW., crosses a very difficult
300 yds. long, and at 7 m. meets 68 a at m, Sl^.
After crossing the Lizan bridge descend 1. bank of the
Zab ; follow the W. foot of the Gargarri Dagh. and
turn up the valley of the Tkhuma stream. There is no
defined track, and the sides of the valley are so steep
that in many places the bed of the stream has to be
followed. Going very bad, a traveller finding it necessary,
in 1911, to unload his mules in places, possibly because
they were too heavily laden for this rough country.
Berawola (alt. 2,950 ft.), 40 houses to N.
Continue to ascend the Tkhuma valley, direction NE.
Salebekkan, a long, straggling village (see lloute 68a, m. 21).
Cross Itoute 68 a. The stream is of considerable size, and
the valley, here about 200 yds. wide, produces a good deal
of wheat, rice, and millet, containing moreover many
fruit and poplar trees. This is the Tkhuma district of
the Ashiret country, the other part being Tiari, N. of
Lizan. The Tkhuma men are said to be more reliable
and less quarrelsome than those of Tiari, although these
last have the better manners. The valley has a bad
reputation for brigandage, according to one authority ;
and the inhabitants have a standing feud with the
Kurdish residents of the Chal valley, to S. Continue up
the valley along the bottom.
Malik Belcho, a large village.
Continue up the valley, which widens as it turns N.
Cross to 1. bank of the stream. Koad becomes easier.
Cross the stream again.
Beridjai village, beyond which the valley bends sharply
to E.