"استطلاعات في بلاد الرافدين وكردستان وشمال غرب بلاد فارس ولرستان في الفترة من أبريل إلى أكتوبر ١٨٨٨، كتبها المقدم ف. ر. مونسيل، فرع الاستخبارات. يوجد مجلدان. المجلد الأول: تقرير سردي ووصف للمدن الكبرى والطرق المؤدية منها. شيملا: فرع الاستخبارات، إدارة قائد الإمداد والتموين، ١٨٩٠" [ظ‎‎١‎٠‎٤] (٣١٢/٢١٣)

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The stages are-
(1) Deriun
(2) Nisibin
(3) Dara
(4) Mardin
( 5 ) Khaniki
(G) Diarbekr
Miles.
25
35
20
15
25
30
making a total distance of 150 miles, or 50 miles longer than the first route.
Tins road lies over a series of rolling downs watered by numerous streams,
and growing fine grass in the spring, but burnt up during the summer and
autumn. . , , , , , . c
In spring the mail or “ postea ” takes the latter route in consequence ot
the good fodder, while in summer and autumn it goes by Midiyat and Mardin.
Water also rather scarce then, but there are numerous villages, mostly of
Jacobite Christians. The Tor Abdin country is fertile, producing corn and
grapes principally. .
Route to Sairdt and Bitlis.—TlRs is an important route both strategically
and commercially, being one of the main passes from the Mesopotamian plain
to Erzerum and the Armenian tablelands.
Through A mad iy eh by the Zab valley and Bashkala is another roi^e, and
through Diarbekr, Kharput, and the Upper Euphrates valley is another way of
reaching the same country from here. Besides these three there is practically
no other way passable for troops. ^
The stages on this route are given thus :
Fenduk
Balak
Sairdt
Javiersur
Bitlis
Total distancs:
Miles.
33
27
21
27
30
13S
This road is rough and difficult even for pack animals ; it follows the left
hank of the Tigris until its junction with the Bohtau Su, and then the valley
of that stream and its tributaries to Bitlis.
The ascent commences at the junction of tlie two rivers, and continues
to Bitlis, a rough hilly district. _ _ - , . .
From Bitlis it is 43 miles in a direction west-north-west to Mush in the
Euphrates valley. , TT . c ,
Another route to Sairdt lies through Midiyat and Hassan Kait. But
from Hassan Kaif to Sairdt are some steep hills.
A third route to Sairdt passes through Derguleh, and goes to the eastward
of the Tigris through the Boh tan district. It is four stages.
The first stage is to Derguleh six hours distant through the Tang-i-Kasr-
ghelli through which the Rohsur river joins the Tigris. This pass is a
difficult mule track. .
The second stage was Birka (eight hours), Besukan being passed en route.
The third stage is Barasha Keupri (eight hours).
The Bakhtia river is followed from Birka, and several villages are passed;
amongst others Awal Serkhutta, Singa, Roshini, Hergul or Bohtan.