"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد II. ١٩١٧" [‎٣‎٢‎٠] (٥٤٢/٣٢٩)

320
LAND ROUTES
it®
P
I
I
EOUTE 13 b S
BASEA—NASIEIYEH (155 m.)
I
S outhern E oute to K hamisiyeh |
Authority ; —Koute Eeport of 1910.
This route, which does not follow a usual track, runs to
Khamisiyeh on a line which, at least for the greater part of the way,
is slightly south of Route 13 a. The relation between the two routes
beyond Shweibdah and Barjisiyeh cannot be exactly determined |
from the evidence available. The route given below between Zobeir
and Khamisiyeh was traversed on camel-back, in January 1910,
by an authority who estimated his pace at 4 m. an hour on an
average. Distances given here are calculated on this basis. The §
authority states that he followed a zigzag course owing to the
insecurity of the country and the consequent anxiety of his native
guides to avoid Arab encampments, &c. The indications of direction
seem to be very incomplete. From Khamisiyeh 13 a is followed
to Nasirlyeh. The ground on this southern route is apparently
passable for all arms. There are soft places after heavy rain, but
these can be avoided.
Miles from !
Basra
o
n
17
24
30
31
39
49
53
57
Basra. See Route 13 a for the road nearly to Zobeir.
Zobeir. Leave Zobeir by a rough desert track, in a
westerly direction, very slightly ascending.
Well, 30 ft. deep, 15 ft. in diameter; 4 ft. of water. Some
slight cultivation here. About ^ m. to W. of track is the
large village of Barjisiyeh, lying in trees in low ground
and straggling away westwards.
Direction "N W. Fall of ground from NE. to SW.
Small water-course running NW. to SE.
Mounds (5 hrs. from Zobeir). The mounds are described
as ' two low jebels 200 yds. to N. of road '.
Direction NW. Smoke of villages and water (apparently
the Euphrates Jchor) seen 2—3 m. towards N.
Direction W. by N.
Dry water-course running NE.
Slight hollow with water-holes and hisrh ground to N.
and NE.