Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-05
THE WAR PRIMER By National Geographic Society

The Khanikan region, where the Russians are reported to have been checked in their advance upon Bagdad, is the subject of the following war geography bulletin issued by the Na- tiOnal Geographic society from it's headquarters in Washington:
 Tt is a 32-hOurs journey, along a munCh traVeled caravan route, from KhaniIin to Bagdad. The latter city lies S5 miles southwest of the Turkish border town which is situated on both sides Of the Hulvan river, a tributary of the DiaIa, whose waters empty into the Tigris.
 Nesting near the foothills of the ZagTOs mountains, with the fertile but uncultivated MesOpOtamian plain stretching to the south, khanikin is a commercial gateway between Persia and Asiatic Turkey. Through it pass the caravans which bear to BaSdad the produce destined for tranSshipment to the port of Basra on the Persian Gulf. To the east lies Kernanshah, famous for it's carpets and horses, and situated almost equi distant from Tabriz, Te- heran Isfahan and Bagdad.
 Not only does the traveller journey ing from Bagdad to KhanilIn meet trade caravans but frequently he en- counters curious funeral prOcessiOns of Shiite pilgrims making their sol enn way from various points in KUr- ulSLdu 10 AGTJEldy D6IOW IodS UdC. ] lie faithful believe that there is special virtue in being buried near the shrine of Husein, who fell at KeTbeIa in 680 A. D., while battling with the enemies of his father, Ali, son-in-la:w of the prophet and fourth caIiph.
 "Khanikin is charmingl ysituated in the midst of gardens whose fruits and palms are famous. Six hours journey from here, on the road to Herman shal h, is Kasr-i-Shirin, once the headquarters of a notorious rObber chief and inter esting on account of it's connection with the romantic legends concerning g Ferhad and Shirin. Here are to be found the remains of a rock -hewn aQueduct which in ancient days con Veyed water for a distance of 15 miles in order that the gardens of Shirin might be made worthy of the beauty of their far-famed mistress. The story of F'erhad and Shirin is one of the favorite romances of the east. F'eThad was the greatest sculptor of his day, and a great architect. While making bas-relefs Of his sovereign, ChrOsrOes II, and of the latters bride, the Chris tian Shirin (aIsO called Sira) the sculptor fell madly in love with his beautiful model ChOsrOeS, so goes the legend, promised to bestOw Shirin up- on his gifted subject provided the lat ter would cut through the rock of Behistun and divert a stream to the NACA LlLS1AlS44cILi EIcllll T Cl 1lc1t ulUGIlOOH6 the task, but when the work was al- most completed an emissary came from the false king bearing a tragic story of Shirins death. The sculptor in despair leaped from the rocks and was dashed to death upon the site of his engineering triumph
 Tn this neighborhood is Sar-i-Puli- zohab, where the Ali Ilahis believe David lived and where a rock hewn tomb is a place of pilgrimage. This sect, supposed to believe in the suc- cessive reincarnation of the God-head through 1,001 existences, had a re- markable beginning, for it Is recorded that Ali, who is held to be their god, rerudiated the worship of his would be followers and when AbduIla ibn Saba, an Arab, proclaimed him to be God the disciple and those who joined in protestations of reverence were or dered cast into pit where fire was thrown upon them. While the burning brands descended upon tn eezalots they cried out in their agony, Now is the certainty of all certainty that thou art God, for the prophet has said 'TIone but God shall punish with 'flre."'
 within another month the soldiers of the czar will cease to be afflicted with the greatest insect pests Of this region-the t1eas which breed by the millions in the dust and sand of the Kurdish plains. They disappear in July and do not return to harry their human victims until anring''