'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎216r] (436/470)

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KIRKUK DIVISION.
Administration Report for the Qadha of Kifri since its
occupation (May 1918) to December 31st 1918.
the qadha or qaimmaqamliq oe kifri.
1. Its Geographical Situation and Boundaries— The Qadha of Kifri is
found in the corner formed by the meeting of the Jabal Hamrin range and the
Diyalah River—the south-eastern limits of the vilayat of Mosul. In the Turkish
administration, Kifri was a Qadha of the Kirkuk Sanjaq and was separated,
geographically, from the Kirkuk Qadha by a line drawn roughly from the Jabal
Hamrin at Hor al ‘Adhaim to halfway between Tuz and Tauq—(Quru Chai) and
continued, along tribal boundaries, a little to the north of the Aq Su to Ibrahim
Khanji. This line, continued eastward to meet the Diyalah just below Pivas, divided
the Kifri Qadha from the Sanjaq governed from Sulaimaniyah.
2. Physical Features —It is a district of rich valleys separated by ranges of
hills running from the north-west to the south-east. There are no high mountains.
Between the Jabal Hamrin and the range known partly as Jabal Gilabat, partly as
Jusbah Dagh, is the Qarah Tappah valley, which in Turk times constituted a nahiyah
governed by a mudir at Qarah Tappah. This Jabal Gilabat does not extend to the
western limits of the Qadha, leaving a vast plain between the Hamrin and the belt
of hills which runs from Diyalah in a north-westerly direction just north of the
Kifri-Tuz Khurmatu-Kirkuk road, but as far as it extends forming a second large
valley in the Kifri district. North of the Jabal Qamr and Daudah ranges the hills
become less regular and there are several small but exceedingly fertile valleys and
particularly the great rolling plateau of Sar Qabah-Shakil-Shirwanah.
The district is watered ( 1 ) by the Diyalah river, from which water is diverted
into irrigation canals; ( 2 ) by a multitude of mountain springs and, in winter, rain
torrents, all draining into the larger streams of the Salahiyah and Dolkhanah rivers,
eventually, by means of the Narin, reaching the Diyalah near the Hamrin gorge.
3. Climate. —The climate is not much more temperate than that of the plains
—in fact, Kifri is probably, in the hot weather, a hotter place than Ba^ubah; but the
rainfall is probably much greater.
The last fall of snow at Kifri was nine years ago and the poor condition of the
date-trees at Tuz Khurmatu and Kifri is ascribed to that severe winter. There are
very few date-trees in the Kifri district and practically none north of the district.
4. Minerals. —A coal mine exists at Na Salih, three miles from Kifri. The
coal is of poor quality and contains a good deal of bitumen. Coal also exists in
other parts of the hills north of Kifri; but no mines, save that of Na Salih, have been
worked.
Oil crops out at many places in the hills, and the oil well at Tuz is being
worked. In the Turkish times a little oil was also obtained from Basha, near Na
Salih coal mine.
Copper, according to German maps, and according to the people, is to be found
north of Kifri.
Bitumen is common, and is collected by the people.
There are several mines of fullers' earth in the district. It is sent to Baghdad
for sale. v
Alum, and a salt called “ zagh,” which is possibly, potassium nitrate, are found
near the Tuz Khurmatu.
Salt pans. Salt, as the name Tuz Khurmatu (“ salt and dates ”) suggests, is to
be found near that town.
Gypsum (juss) is found and is universally used in Kifri for house-building.
Gypsum can also be obtained near Qarah Tappah.
Nurah or lime can be made by burning a kind of limestone pebble common in all
the river beds.