"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد IV .١٩١٧" [و‎‎١‎٠‎٢] (٥٣٠/٢٠٨)

#
EOUTE 85
199
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Miles from
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99i
100
102
102|
103i
105i
1064
109
Stony track among scattered wheat fields, surrounded by-
thick thorn hedges.
Derraj on the L bank.
Lower end of the Bitlis pass. Here the river makes a sharp
bend to the N. and debouches from between the Kauchub
Dagh on the W. and the Kumur Dagh on the E., both of
them high masses of rock with craggy, wooded slopes.
The chaussee has been cut in the loose rock up the steep
slope, and continues up the r. bank.
After some heavy rock cutting in a spur on the r. bank
below Dukhan, it is carried along the steep cliff on the r.
bank and to the plateau beyond, and is passable for guns.
The present track crosses to 1. bank of the Bitlis Su by
a 30-ft. stone arch, half ruined in 1899. Steep narrow
ascent on 1. bank.
Follow a stony track through low oaks and undergrowth.
Valley closes in to 200 yds. wide, bordered by steep,
craggy slopes with trees and brushwood.
Dukhan (alt. 3,515 ft.), large khan in the river valley, now
contracted between high, rocky ranges and with steep,
wooded slopes. Few supplies. Country sparsely popu
lated. The villages are small and off the road. T. L. (one
wire) from Diarbekr to Bitlis follows the pass.
Leaving Dukhan the track is stony, but fairly easy.
Cross to the r. bank by a wooden bridge of 35-ft. span
built where the river narrows in a rocky gorge, and
rejoin the chaussee which is 20 ft. wide, and cut in the
hill-side.
The chaussee winds along the face of a spur.
Pass Keufurdur QaVah, a small ruined fort near a ruined
khan on a knoll to the 1. Koad then keeps close along
the stream. To the 1. are craggy terraces with a few
oaks and shrubs.
High up on a slope to the E. is Shattakh, a small village
1^ m. off. The valley here is about 400 yds. wide at the
bottom ; the river winds a good deal, and in the loops are
small, level places suitable for camps.
Pass Qara Qau ruins up a side valley. To the W. is the
high range of the Akyab Dagh, topped by a succession of
rugged pinnacles. Trees and undergrowth decrease as
Bitlis is neared, owing to their being cut for firewood.