"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد II. ١٩١٧" [‎٢‎٠‎٥] (٥٤٢/٢١٤)

ROUTE 5c
205
tracts). From here to m. 15 track is sandy and heavy
and easily cut up.
Track again meets river where the latter makes an elbow-
bend {Route III C, m. 25).
Camping-ground (cf. introduction to this route). Scrub
for fuel plentiful. Watering easy from river.
From here to m. 35 general direction is WNW. Track
runs NW. for about 1,000 yds., and then turns due W.
The going is heavy.
Pass big tomb visible for about 3 m. Good camping-
grounds may be found anywhere in the next 2 m.
Stone bridge over a water-cut which could be made passable
by ramping if the bridge were destroyed.
Sheikh Ja ad ruins to N. of road. No village here. Fairly
high ground in this neighbourhood affords a good site
for a camp, but no fuel is obtainable and watering is
likely to be difficult owing to the steepness of the banks.
Eoad apparently now turns N, (There appears to be some
confusion in the Route Report here followed, which says,
' After crossing the stone bridge the road runs due N. for
m. towards the ruins of Sheikh Ja'ad.')
Route turns NW. and follows line of old canal for 4 m.
This portion of the road is very good for all arms.
Bogheileh lies about S. from here, on r, bank of the
Tigris, and a track from the 1. bank opposite to it joins
the present route in this neighbourhood. This track,
which is reported to be used by herds, continues NE.
towards Jessan, joining Route 9,
' About, 6 m. from Sheikh Ja ad' the old canal joins an
old bed of the river.
Road continues over slightly undulating ground, the lower
parts of which are liable to form swamps in the flood
season. These can be avoided by keeping closer to the
river-bank.
Road turns due W. to meet the river. Watering is here
difficult, as the banks are steep. Scrub for fuel is
plentiful.
From here road runs due N. to m. 32.
Road meets old caravan-route and runs in a long curve
with a general NW. by W. direction to
Nahr Kellak, at elbow bend at down-stream end of