"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد IV .١٩١٧" [و‎‎١‎٠‎٠] (٥٣٠/٢٠٤)

ROUTE 85
195
Miles from
J eziret-
ibn-
'Omar
45
47i
50
51A
52
53
53A
55
57i
the country is open, rising in a long glacis to terrace-like
plateaux. Across the Tigris are the ridges and ravines
of the Ashita Dagh, covered with oak and brushwood.
Track ascends the Bohtan valley. There is good open
ground for camps on either bank of the Bohtan ; firewood
abundant and drinking water plentiful and good.
Baliq, village ; some cultivation.
Mu'tadd, a Kurdish village near a small spring with some
cultivation and small orchards.
End of a rocky ridge overlooks village from E., at a distance
of -I m.
The Bohtan is joined on the r. bank by a large affluent
formed by the combined waters of the Bitlis Su and
Keser Su. The lower part of the valley of this tributary
is fairly open, with bare slopes and low cliffs at intervals,
and 3 m. up-stream it is crossed by a good masonry
bridge—the Nasr ed-Din Koprii (see Route 102 b). A
track leads W. to Ridhwan. Above the junction are the
ruins of a masonry bridge over the Bohtan, of which
the centre arches have been swept away.
Pass Dodoisu village on the opposite bank. Perry-boat
kept near here.
Cross the Zoraweh Chai, flowing from the hilly country
to the E. On the far bank is Beloriz, a small Kurdish
village. The path is now an easy track along the river
bank.
Just before entering a gorge the Bohtan has to be forded.
The river is here 120 yds. wide, but the ford is diagonal,
and is 450 yds. long. When practicable it is 3 to 3-| ft.
deep near the left bank, but gets shallower towards the
right. It is only passable at low water. Otherwise
a ferry is used, the boat for which is usually kept near
Dodoisu (see m. 51^). The bank is shelving and easy.
The gorge is now entered by a 10 ft. track along the base
of the cliff, and a few feet above water-level.
Pass Siyah Khan, a rock-cut chamber in the face of the
cliff. The path rounds the base of the cliff and is difficult
for ^ m. About here route from Diarbekr joins (see
Eoute 102 b, m. 85J).
The valley opens out. Path among boulders and stones.
The ascent from valley begins (alt. 1,510 ft.). The river is
n 2