'Reconnaissances in Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, North-West Persia, and Luristan from April to October 1888. By Lt F R Maunsell, Intelligence Branch. In Two Volumes. Volume I: narrative report, description of larger towns and routes leading from them. Simla: Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General's Dept, 1890' [‎24r] (52/312)

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III.—From Kut-’l-Amara to Karmanshah by Bedrai, Dehbala^ Char-
dowar, and theVai’dalan Pass (see Route II).
This is a rough and difficult route, and not used as a trade route.
IY.—Shustar to Hamadan by the Kerkbah Valley, the Jaidar Pass to
Khorramabad and Burujird.
Between the Kerkhah Valley and Khorramabad is the most difficult portion
of this route.
This is one of the natural commercial arteries from Khuzistan in Central
Persia, hut is partially closed owing to the lawlessness and insecurity of the
mountain districts.
Route I is the easiest and best route geographically speaking for goods
to reach West Persia from the Gulf, the Tigris steamers being used as far as
Baghdad. Trade on thf 1 other hand passes through Turkish Custom Houses,
and is always liable to be checked by imposts, arbitrary or otherwise, or restric
tive quarantine regulations.
By Route IY goods can reach Shustar by the Karun Navigation from
Muhammerah, and pass exclusively through Persian territory.
Kerkhah Hirer .—The Kerkhah is the principal river of Lur-i-Kuchuk
and the Pusht-i-Kuh. It rises in three branches ; the first and most incon
siderable has its commencement about £5 miles west of Hamadan. The
second rises in three springs on Mount Elvand, 6 to 8 miles south of that
place, and runs south-westward till it meets the former in the plain of
Maran, about 10 mil«s south-west of Kangawar.
The third, or south-east branch, called the Ab-i-Kulan, is the largest, and
rises in the hills 15 miles north of Burujird, within a few miles of the springs
of the river Dizful, and flows north-west through Daulutabad and the country
east of Nihawand.
The three united streams go by the name of the Gamasiah, which flows
west to near Bisitun, where it receives the Ab-i-Dinawar from the mountains
to the north of Sangarand Dinawar. From here it turns south-west, and a few
miles from Harsin receives the Kara Su, which rises, one branch in the Guran
mountains west of Karmanshah, and another in the Kamiran plain to the
north-west, and flows through the valley 4 miles north of that town.
Prom its junction with the Kara Su the Kerkhah flows nearly due south
through a very rough mountainous country, passing through several “tangs,”
to Hulilan. From there it makes a westerly bend flowing through the Tang-i-
Bai into the lower end of the Chardawar valley. Here it receives a large tribu
tary called the Ab-i-Chenara on the right bank. Its course from Bisitun is little
known, as no road follows its bank and the country is very inaccessible.
The Ab-i-Cbenara rises near Karind, flows south-east through the Karind
plain (Ab-i-Karind) past Harunabad, and down a wide fertile valley into the
Harassan plant, where it is called the Ab-i-Chenara (see Route II).
In a course due south from Harassan it forces its way through the lofty
ridges of the Vardalan Kuh by an enormous rift some miles long, called the
Tang-i-Salim, emerges into the Chardowar valley, and from there turns
south-east. In Chardowar it receives tributaries from Zangawan and from
the head of the valley, and lower down joins the Kerkhah which breaks through
the Vardalan Kange by a rift called the Tang-i-Bai.
The Kerkhah receives numerous small tributaries on its right hank
from the Kebir Kuh. It flows through the plains of Fort and Seimarrah
to the Pul-i-Gamashan, below which it receives a large stream, the Kashgan,
which drains the mountainous region towards Khorramabad ; with others, the
Ab-i-Garni and Ab-i-Zal, also from the same mountains on the left hank.
VOL. i.
i
F