"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد IV .١٩١٧" [و‎‎١‎١‎٢] (٥٣٠/٢٢٨)

ROUTES 88, 89 a 219
the whole way. In 1905 it was not practicable for wheeled traffic,
although in 1900 some stretches of it had been metalled, and parts
had been regraded: it is possible that this work has been completed
over the whole length, but since the labour required was considerable
this is not probable. On the Armenian population compare p. 32.
Bitlis. Leaving the market on the r. bank of the stream
a wide road leads to a fairly easy ascent m. distant,
whence a 30-ft. metalled road leads along a plateau.
The road then crosses first a ravine from 1. by a 20-ft.
stone bridge, and later, by a 30-ft. stone bridge, a stream
from Popshin on 1., 30 Armenian houses. Beyond this
second bridge it follows the Bitlis stream, here running
in an impassable gorge 50 ft. wide which bends to E., and
skirts a stony spur from E.; at this point the road was
not metalled in 1900, but the track is stony and good for
wheeled traffic. The valley opens out to a width of 500
yds. of level, stony ground, the gorge gets shallower and
less steep, and the Poar stream is passed over.
A. track on r. leads by a stone bridge to the alternative route
to Shamunis. A stream from 1. is crossed.
The valley opens out to the Hahwa plateau at its head, the
Bash Khan, built of stone and 30 yds. square, being
passed. The T.L. to Mush branches olf to 1., while that
to Van goes r., following the routes to these places
respectively.
Route now crosses in a NE. direction the open, uncultivated,
and almost waterless plateau, which is covered with deep
snow until the middle of April: it can otherwise be
traversed easily in any direction.
Route crosses the Bitlis stream, 10 ft. wide in a shallow
depression.
Alinian Elian, built of stone and 70 yds. square, whence a
branch, a mule-track, goes E. over a deep spur Ortap,
7^ m., to the main road at m. 18. Continue over the
plateau and gradually descend to
Tadvan, 50 houses, mostly Armenian, on the shore of Lake
Van, where there is a bay with a landing-place. From
here two roads go N. to Akhlat, and the Van road goes
due S. along the shore of the lake by an easy, open
track.