'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. IV. 1917' [‎12r] (28/530)

INTRODUCTION
19
'®iiw to be forded, but this could be avoided by following a track which
0 anSi goes somewhat W. of the Chenxi Khan road, and crosses the Keser
Me ii by the Argif Bridge ; it joins the road by Chemi Khan not far from
' f 1 | Dukhan (see Route 86 b). Lastly, a track, difficult even for pack-
■ animals, leads from Sairt to Bitlis farther east than the road by
l 5' « Chemi Khan : it passes Kifra and Olek (see Route 86 c).
(e) Urmia to Yan and Bitlis. —There are two routes from Urmia to
are ui Van. One of these goes to Dizeh by 61 a, b, thence to Bash Qal'ah
ryism! by Houte 65, and from that town to Van by Jtoutc. 74a. The greater
Noil part of this could probably be used by light vehicles; but there are
'ooWi two impassable stretches; one of about 12 miles before the Great
Tke t Zab is crossed (see Route 65, m. 15^), and the other of a few miles
e, eg i at the Chukh Gedik [Route 74 a, m. 14). This road has the dis-
advantage of being more or less closed by snow to all considerable
riaWi traffic for several months, at the Chukh Gedik and on the Gavvar
GreatZi plain some miles E. of the bad stretch at m. ISf of 65 : other-
aspassi wise it forms a good route for a mountainous country. The other
itbetm route to Bitlis passes by Dilman, Khoi, and Lake Archag to Van
ihelii (see Routes 66 a and 76 a). This is a driving road practically the
hasbti whole way: the only part which presents any serious difficulty for
1 would I regular vehicular traffic is a stretch of two or three miles at the pass
1( 18l3, beyond Eazi [Route 76 a, m. 69). This road is fairly free from snow,
gen lb and plenty of water and grazing are to be had along it, together with
route h some fuel. There is an alternative track from Razi to Van
appareil 76 b) across the Chul Chemen and Ermanis plains: an easy track,
tedljl perhaps passable for light vehicles. From Van to Bitlis (see
llthei 89 a) the road follows the south shore of Lake Van. Some short
D aide,I stretches of it were open for wheeled traffic according to the latest
the rid information available: it is possible, however, that since the war
gufoili began the whole road has been graded and made passable throughout
bridgei 6 ^ or vehicles. This road passes through a populous, well-wooded,
rSretW 1 well-watered country, with fairly good grazing.
'lie gait- Lateral communications. —There are many branch routes, some
jttoltf connecting the main lines of communication referred to above, and
s doui others forming alternative routes on the main lines. Most of these are
jfthe# extre mely bad, some being impassable for laden animals, while some
geuefll a ie closed by snow in winter, and some by snow avalanches in the
s l )r ! n g- The following are the most important of these lateral routes
which connect two main lines of communication :—
rJH Connecting [a) with [h). (1) Amadiyeh to Eowanduz [Route
2iyai«t' ,)J a); -From this a very rough track branches to Oramar 62 b),
jasilj'® through a wild, sparsely inhabited country. (2) Neri to
serSw Cannes [Route 63 a). A track similar to the Oramar route just
b 2