"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد IV .١٩١٧" [ظ‎‎١‎١‎٨] (٥٣٠/٢٤١)

232
LAND ROUTES
Miles from
Mosul
62i
62i
Th® following is an account of the route Simel—Asi
according to the authority of 1903 (see above, m. 45i).
Miles from
Simel
o
6
H
9
10
lOij
12
16
Simel. Direction NW. to Kilzet.
River-bed, 80 yds. wide, banks 35 ft. high. In
early autumn, pools, with flow of 100 gallons
p.h. between them.
Kilzet, village, 1 m. to 1. Direction NNW.
Zerukani, village, 30 houses, f m. to 1.
Giresh, village, 40 houses, 2 m. to r. Spring.
Cross small stream, flowing from Giresh spring.
In early autumn only a few pools.
Barsipiki, village, 10 houses to 1.
Asi, to r.
The country is undulating and fertile, but little cultivated
(1888).
Spring alongside road, a few huts and trees (1888).
This seems to be the same as Terkejan, reported by
1903 authority as being a village of 15 houses, on r.,
with spring and pool on 1. Terkejan, however, is placed
6 m. from Asi.
Enter the Zakho pass. The account of the road to top of
this is very briefly described by the 1903 observer as
follows: ' The steep ascent begins N. by W., immediately
beyond Terkejan on the regular metalled cart-road
which, though not in good repair, is quite passable for
wheels.' A traveller in 1909 confirms this, saying that
the road is good. The length of the ascent is given
as 2 m.
The more detailed account of the 1888 observer, though
doubtless no longer applicable in detail, may still prove
serviceable. His instructions and times are as follows:
Ascend gradually in a northerly direction by a valley
300 to 400 yds. wide with steep, shelving slopes ; then
follow a mule road 12 ft. to 15 ft., paved in places, with
easy gradient, up the E. side of the rocky ravine. At
16 min. from the beginning of the ascent, the height
reached is 2,315 ft. The track averages 10 ft. to 12 ft.
wide, cleared of stones, with easy gradient. A few
bushes on the hill-sides. At 25 min. the altitude is
2,545 ft. At 30 min., for 100 yds., a paved 10-ft. track.