1915 and is comprised of this Mosul (actually Ras Alayn)-
Aleppo account (March-April -year uncertain) and another
account of a trip from Mosul to Van via Hakkari (June-
August 1911), which will be published by TNT
subsequently.
The travel log was translated from German to Ottoman
Turkish by "Captain Yusuf Rıza, assigned to the Second
Office of the General Headquarters" and he may be the
author, since the travel log is signed with his initials, dated
January 1914, although the year may be 1915 because
of calendar variations in those days.
In the text, the writer notes that "the Germans will begin
excavations." So it seems that the writer himself is not
German. Both travel logs, but especially the Ras Alayn-
Aleppo account, refer to ancient archeological sites along
the route but without any details about them.
Evidently, in the time before the outbreak of World War
I, the Germans were combining archeology with
intelligence gathering in the Middle East and Africa,
as evidenced by this paper: Leo Frobenius Secret Mission
There is, however, no indication of any intent other than
trailblazing and archeology in this travel log.//
This map, one of two tracking the Ras Alayn-
Aleppo route, shows the journey's starting
point Ras Al'ayn at top right. Harran, in
today's Şanlıurfa province of Turkey, is at
top center. Rakka is at the bottom, where
the route turns sharply westward, following
the Euphrates River.
Information about the Mosul - Aleppo Road:
From Ras Al'ayn to the Euphrates:
I had to stay in Ras Al'ayn the entire day, although I would rather
not have. Actually, I wanted to head west through the desert toward
Harran and I calculated that this would take at most four days. Since
I couldn't find any feed for the animals in the village I had to send a
man to the surrounding villages to look for animal feed. The
Gendarmerie providing protection could only accompany me this far
so we had to go to a town named Saf three hours away to change the
Gendarmerie guards.
Actually, the Gendarmerie didn't want to proceed because they didn't
know the road to Harran but when they saw that I was determined to
go they had to come with me. I tried to find a Circassian to use as a
guide but couldn't find one. In any event, challenging danger, we
began to head north, thinking that we would be able to find the
caravan road that goes to Viranşehir.
Ras Alayn is at bottom-right: Harran is at bottom-center.
At 6 o'clock from Şapur city we set out toward Telülhalef, which is in
the vicinity of Aynülhasan in that same direction. In a few weeks, the
German will begin excavations here. We passed by the hill where
these ruins are located on the left, and headed due west with only some
minor deviations. At Aynülhasan, which is near Telharbe, we tried to
find a raft and remained here for about 15 minutes after 7:20 o'clock.
There were hundreds of dead camels on the slope of the hill.
After travelling quite a while, at 9:20 o'clock we came to a well and
then we passed through a valley. At noon we encountered tents of
Kurdish villages, where we got water for the animals. Half an hour
later, we turned southwest and after quite a while we took a break near
some ruins.
On 29 March at 6 o'clock we we ready to move out. Forty-five minutes
later, we reached Handavul, where we found a few wells but they were
dry.
The weather was cold and windy. We passed through a number of
valleys but the area was vast. Finally, we came to Cebil-i Tek and 45
minutes later we were at the Sa'ib Sar ruins. We wanted to spend the
night here but there was no water. Ultimately, our soldiers pressed two
Bedouins to show us where there was a well and they did. But there
was only enough water for the 8 of us so the pack animals went without
water.
minutes later we were at the Sa'ib Sar ruins. We wanted to spend the
night here but there was no water. Ultimately, our soldiers pressed two
Bedouins to show us where there was a well and they did. But there
was only enough water for the 8 of us so the pack animals went without
water.
The next day we reached Teltorba and 34 minutes later we came to the
tents of a Kurdish tribe. The Kurds brought me to the Şanülbarur ruins
20 minutes to the south. From there we headed west again, crossing
Cebil-i Tektek and, after quite a while, we began to see some villages
up ahead.
tents of a Kurdish tribe. The Kurds brought me to the Şanülbarur ruins
20 minutes to the south. From there we headed west again, crossing
Cebil-i Tektek and, after quite a while, we began to see some villages
up ahead.
On the first of April and until the fourth of the month we remained in
Harran. I wanted to follow the Belih waterway all the way to Rakka
and the Euphrates River. It took us a full 3 days to get here and the
road we followed passed through many valleys where I saw many
monuments and remnants of a prosperous past. Even today, a third
of these ancient monuments are extant.
The road was very good and we were able to find water almost
everywhere. Consequently, we were free of difficulties. On the 5th
of April at 5:30 o'clock, we headed south and three and a half hours
later we encountered a range of hills, which accompanied at close
quarters.
At about 10 o'clock we reached the Güllab waterway that flows near
the Belih at Telberi. We followed the Güllab, passing Telülsevik, and
at a quarter past eleven we came to the Belih waterway where the
Telülzelan flows into it. From here, we turned a bit southeast and
came to a large Türkmen village named Bendi Hamam at 1:15 o'clock
and pitched our tents there. The land is cultivated for as far as the eye
can see.
Harran. I wanted to follow the Belih waterway all the way to Rakka
and the Euphrates River. It took us a full 3 days to get here and the
road we followed passed through many valleys where I saw many
monuments and remnants of a prosperous past. Even today, a third
of these ancient monuments are extant.
The road was very good and we were able to find water almost
everywhere. Consequently, we were free of difficulties. On the 5th
of April at 5:30 o'clock, we headed south and three and a half hours
later we encountered a range of hills, which accompanied at close
quarters.
At about 10 o'clock we reached the Güllab waterway that flows near
the Belih at Telberi. We followed the Güllab, passing Telülsevik, and
at a quarter past eleven we came to the Belih waterway where the
Telülzelan flows into it. From here, we turned a bit southeast and
came to a large Türkmen village named Bendi Hamam at 1:15 o'clock
and pitched our tents there. The land is cultivated for as far as the eye
can see.
The next day at six o'clock, we set out south and continued on our way,
always staying close to the Belih. Half an hour later we saw 20-30
tents on the left side. At 7:15 o'clock, we saw no more cultivated land
after Telülahmam. We followed a stream that separated from the Belih
waterway to the east for 20 minutes. Many times that day we
encountered some tent-dwelling 'Urban' (Bedouin Arabs).
At 2:30 o'clock, we took a break at Telülsaid, where the Belih splits
up into a number of branches. After the Telülsaid hills, we came to
Külbaşı, which is not even found on the 'Kibrit' maps. On the 7th of
April, at 5:35 o'clock we left the tents and headed to the southwest,
passing along the hills. Two hours later, we began to see hills to the
west. At this point the valley narrowed to two kilometers. We had
to cross the three branches of the river here and because it was a bit
swampy, we were delayed for about 15 minutes.
Now, the town of Rakka became visible to the southwest. At 12:20
o'clock, we entered Rakka. After touring the ancient sites of the city,
we departed Rakka at 1:30 o'clock, heading west. First, we came to a
caravan road that passes the Herakal ruins at 3:05 o'clock and taking
this road as far as Abdülali, we reached a dry river bed an hour later.
We spent the night at a distance of 35 minutes from the Euphrates
River.
//END PART I//
always staying close to the Belih. Half an hour later we saw 20-30
tents on the left side. At 7:15 o'clock, we saw no more cultivated land
after Telülahmam. We followed a stream that separated from the Belih
waterway to the east for 20 minutes. Many times that day we
encountered some tent-dwelling 'Urban' (Bedouin Arabs).
At 2:30 o'clock, we took a break at Telülsaid, where the Belih splits
up into a number of branches. After the Telülsaid hills, we came to
Külbaşı, which is not even found on the 'Kibrit' maps. On the 7th of
April, at 5:35 o'clock we left the tents and headed to the southwest,
passing along the hills. Two hours later, we began to see hills to the
west. At this point the valley narrowed to two kilometers. We had
to cross the three branches of the river here and because it was a bit
swampy, we were delayed for about 15 minutes.
Now, the town of Rakka became visible to the southwest. At 12:20
o'clock, we entered Rakka. After touring the ancient sites of the city,
we departed Rakka at 1:30 o'clock, heading west. First, we came to a
caravan road that passes the Herakal ruins at 3:05 o'clock and taking
this road as far as Abdülali, we reached a dry river bed an hour later.
We spent the night at a distance of 35 minutes from the Euphrates
River.
//END PART I//
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