"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد IV .١٩١٧" [و‎‎٧‎٢] (٥٣٠/١٤٨)

ROUTES. 68 b, 69
139
KOUTE 69
JULAMERK—BASH QAL'AH (49 m.)
Authorities :—Military Beport onE.T.A., vol. iii, Route 120, supplemented from
other information.
General direction, NNE. The road follows the r. bank of the
Great Zab river, fairly low clown the hill-side. This is the main
route from Julamerk to Bash Qal'ah, and is that generally followed
by travellers, although the road Kochannes and the Harefta
Gedik {Boutes 70 and 71 a), 1 m. shorter but having many more
severe ascents and descents, is sometimes used. For the tirst 36
miles it is a fairly good mule-road, passable at all times of the year,
except for the stretch between m. 20^ and m. 32, which is not used
during the winter when a lower road, 4 m. longer, is followed.
Beyond m. 36 it is shown on the W.O. map as a cart-track, and
probably could be used by wheeled traffic without much difficulty.
There is some difficulty about fuel along this route, and for a large
body of men it would be necessary to cut down fruit trees, of which
a fair number is available. On the population, compare p. 32.
Miles from
J ula-
merk
o
93
Z 4
6a
4
91
Julamerk. The route crosses the Julamerk basin and
descends into a valley partly along a ledge in loose shale
and partly over rock : the track is revetted in places.
Erik Hald, Kurdish village of a few huts with some rice
fields lying on the r. bank of the Zab. Follow a narrow,
rocky track along the river.
Marora, small tributary of the Zab. From this point up
to Rezan de Zab (m. 21), the intermediate distances
must be accepted with caution as there is clearly some
confusion in the principal authority. The track, follow
ing the river, becomes bad.
Des Chai, a large stream flowing into the Zab on the
1. bank. It comes from the Jelu district. Near its
junction with the Zab lies the village of Kermi de Des or
Rezan (de Des) dominated by the ruins of an old Kurdish
stronghold, Mudebbir Qal'ah. Down this valley comes
a route from Neri (see Route 63 a, m. 91^) which crosses