"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد IV .١٩١٧" [ظ‎‎١‎١‎١] (٥٣٠/٢٢٧)

218
LAND EOUTES
Miles from
Mukus
Following the r. bank of the stream, pass Sasunau, to
r., and on the far bank Vanik, 60 houses, situated at the
mouth of a large tributary coming from the wooded
Of Dagh to SE.
Sinek, a small village situated on both banks of the stream.
Route leaves the Gtizel Dereh at a point whence another
track leads down the opposite or 1. bank to Shirwan and
Sairt.
Ascend by a rough, stony track, which becomes easier
as it follows a small stream through brushwood and
trees.
Bablak Gedik. From the summit an easy track leads
down a broad ridge to the Nahiyeh district, and passes
through Hiruis, 40 Kurdish houses on the banks of a
stream. It then crosses a low ridge coming from N., and
enters the village of Gholtig (alt. 5,400 ft.), a thriving
Armenian village of 300 houses, lying in a wide culti
vated and wooded basin which drains SE. into the Giizel
Dereh. From the village an alternative track, easier but
somewhat longer than that followed, leads to Bitlis, 6 m.
distant, going W. and then NW. as it passes S. of the
Gholtiki Dagh. The main route follows a very steep
ascent by a clay track, which becomes easier farther up.
Pass in the high, rugged Gholtiki Dagh. Track descends
to the
Gholtiki Maidau, a basin f m. in diameter, filled by a lake
in spring. Steep, stony track down a ridge to
Bitlis.
KOUTE 89 a
BITLIS—VAN (88 m.)
Via S. shore op L ake V an
Authorities : —See p. 459. Main authorities; E.T.A., vol. ii.
Route 95 (reports of 1899 and 1890), and Reports of 1900-1905.
General direction, E. From remote times this route has been
followed by caravans journeying from the Tigris valley to Lakes Van
and Urmia. It is on the whole easy for pack-animals, though the
going is rough in parts. Supplies, fuel, and water are plentiful