'ROUTES IN PERSIA. SECTION II.' [‎43] (68/122)

43
Route No. %ft*~eoncld.
No.
of
stage.
Names of stages.
Distance iit
miles,
Inter
mediate.
Total.
Beuabes.
10
Muhammed
Agha Kiupei.
Kapkel
11
11
Diza
12
13
14
U
16
17
Sheikh Amib ...
Del as i Pass ...
B absan
Bazikga ...
Gangachin ...
Ueumiah
81
941
6J
241
100
108
115
123
154
Kocliannes. The route runs south-east over hillj
country, passing the Kurdish villages of Khak-
karavok and Biz Deran, and at 13 miles descends
steeply into the valley of the Nihaila Gavari, a
stream running north-west into the Zab. The
track is here very bad, the valley, which is rocky
and narrow, is followed up, the track running
along the right bank to
Muhammed Agha Kiupri, where there is a good
stone bridge over the Gavari. The route keeps
up the right bank, the valley opening out, and
some distance further is
Kaprel, an Armenian village at the commencement
of the level plain of Gavar. This plain is 20
miles long from north-west to south-east by 10
miles broad at its widest part; it is quite flat and
contains many villages, but is swampy in some
places in the centre. At Kaprel a route from
Kochannes joins in. The route leaving the stream
which flows through the centre of the plain,
skirts the hills on its north-east side to
Diza (5,800 feet). From Diza there is a route to
Urumiah in Persia, and difficult roads run south
wards.
Start north form Diza ascending from the Gavar
plain, pass villages of Sakeran and Nudian, then
up a narrowing grassy valley to
Sheikh Amir, a Kurdish village of 60 houses. Soon
afterwards the stream down the valley is forded,
easy route, ascending gradually to the
Delasi pass (7,000 feet). This is the watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins.
between the Zab basin and that of the Nazlu
Chai, which flows into Lake Urumiah. Eoute
descends east into the Baradost Chai Valley, pass
ing Surian, and arrives at
Barsan, a wretched village. Continue descending
the valley, narrow in some places, to
Bazirga. This is the Turkish frontier post and is
a miserable village. The route continues down
the valley, passing the frontier after 2 miles, and
2 miles further issues on to the Baradost plain,
which it crosses east to
Gangachin. From here the route runs by Masta-
kar and Hassar (21 miles) to
Urumiah.
This is an important caravan route and would be
followed going from Bashkala to Urumiah, and
is easy throughout; although not used for wheel,
it is practicable for field artillery. Carts are used
between Urumiah and the Baradost plain. Sup
plies are not obtainable between Diza and the
frontier; water plentiful. This report is from
one by Lieutenant Maunsell, R.A., 1888.