'ROUTES IN PERSIA. SECTION II.' [‎44] (69/122)

44
Route No.
From Van to Julamerk via Sikunis.
Authority and Clayton, 1882.
No.
of
stage.
Names of stages.
D istance in
miles.
Inter,
mediate.
Total.
Eemarks,
Van
Instosh
12
12
Aghjb KALA ...
10
22
S ekunis
13
35
Kochannes
18
53
JULAMEEK
61
&
are
From Van the route runs 4 miles E.S.E. to Khum-
bash, a large village. Here the route turns south
over the hills, descending at 6| miles to the
ford of the Khushab River, which is 2 feet to 3
feet deep in summer. The river runs through a
wide and fertile valley forming the district of
Haiazo, in which there are many villages.
Instosh, a large Armenian village. Eoute runs
south-east, and after 4 miles ascends out of the
valley by steep zigzags, crosses a ridge, and
descends for a short distance steeply, then gently
to a stream running south-west to the Botan or
Satak Su, which is forded. A mile further on is
Aghje Kala, a Kurdish village to the left of the
road, which continues south-east over undulatin
ground, descending to a plateau, in which
some deep ravines of streams going to Botan Su
to be crossed. This is the beginning of the Mur-
duz district. Eventually the road descends to
the valley of the Botan Su, which here runs
south-west in a deep ravine ; the river is crossed
close to the junction of the Sekunis Su, the val
ley of which is followed up to
Sekunis. There is a bridge here over a stream
which curves, running north-east near this point.
The route keeping to the left of the Botan Su
now ascends gradually over upland pastures for
10 miles to a pass (9,800 feet), which marks the
watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins. between the Botan and the Zab, and
descends into the Nestorian valley of Berinar,
through which flows the Upper Bardawa Zab in
a general south-westerly direction, and passes
near the villages of Hadalanis and Kobanis.
There is then a steep ascent and another pass is
crossed, 9,800 feet above the sea, and the valley of
Kochannes is entered ; the route skirts the upper
end passing about 2 miles from
Kochannes, the seat of the Nestorian patriarch.
From Kochannes a difficult route runs down the
valley east to a ford over the Zab, which is pass
able only in summer, and thence over the hills
to Diza ; it is rough and difficult and there are
no supplies. Distance 35 miles. The route run
ning now nearly south, ascends out of this valley,
and then descends gently to
Julamerk.
This route is only practicable for wheels to the
limit of the Khushab Valley, the ascent out of