'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' [‎30v] (65/312)

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Chillav Valley .—Between the Gumir and the Kalaja Kuh is the Chillav
valley up which a road from Gilan runs. The south-east slope of the Kalaja
was a steep scarped slope looking impassable.
The Chillav valley is about 20 miles long and 4 to 5 broad containing fine
pasture ground. The centre of the valley bears 605° from here.
29th April—General direction, E. N. E. Left camp at 7-15 a.m. and
commenced the ascent of the Kalaja Pass, a rough track winding among
boulders and skirting some cragg}' ravines. By carrying the road to the left
an easier gradient could be found and, if cleared of stones, could be made into
a fair cartroad.
X
. At the fop of the ridge the hawthorn was in bud, while at the bottom
it was in full leaf. At 9 a.m. the summit was reached (6,325').
The rounded summit of the ridge rose 1,000' still higher to the south-east
(7,300').
From the summit—■
247° was the bearing of Jabal Daimuri over Muarenna camp.
315° to the Kachal Kuh.
Ercm 10° to 1 5° was a lofty range, the Avroman Dagh, and mountains near
Sihna, both thickly covered with snow.
From 40° to 60 ° was another snow-covered range, the Baluch Kuh and Parao
Kuh north of Karmanshah.
We began a rough winding descent down a steep slope thickly wooded
with oaks and hawthorn. It was much steeper than the ascent, and at
the foot (5,360') we emerged into the broad grassy valley of Gouar
Gavvar.
There are several springs along the foot of the ridge, and a small stream
runs south-east down the centre of the valley towards the Ab-i-Chenara.
One cluster of tents was the only sign of life in the whole valley.
Gouar valley runs 130° for some 20 miles, and the ridges then close in. The
village of Gouar lies in that direction at the head of the valley. A little stream
flows south-east to join the Ab-i-Chenara at the Tang-i-Salim [see Route
In a direction 305° the valley closed in at about 6 miles from here. A
broad track used by nomads leads up towards Gilan.
Kalalca. I wo miles up the valley was the ruins of a large brick serai
called Kalaka which existed when this was a more frequented route.
Several large tumuli on the stream bank point to this having been a popu
lous distiict in ancient times. It might be so now except for the lawlessness
of the tubes and want of any settled government. The northern face of the
Kalaja Kuh for a mile on either side of the foot of the pass is an almost
vertical sheet of rock.
Gouar valley is 3 miles broad and contains a rich gravelly soil with "ood
grass at this season.
. Crossing the valley at 8 i miles we entered the Tano--i~
Juimark (5,360'), a gap in the range 100 to 200 yards broad. There are the
remains of an old masonry wall drawn across the pass, a defensive post at
some former time.
. -^ lrol:n the mouth of the pass the road bifurcates ; one a very rou°'h track
going straight over the spurs of the Bend-i-Nua Range to Karind, and
another which we took more to the eastward towards Harunabad. Two men
toot were met here, who said they had left Harunabad five hours before.