'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' [‎31v] (67/312)

48
Route No. II.—From Karmanshah to Kut-’l-Amara via
Dehbala and the Pusht-i-Kuh.
20th to 30th August.
Stages.
Hours
marching 1 .
Distance
IN MILES.
Rate in miles
per hour.
Intermediate.
Total.
Zeilan ... ...
3 75
15
15
4-10
Pelangir
650
24
39
3-69
Chardowar ... ...
8 50
27
66
3*17
Delibala
9-00
30
96
3*33
Kerrapi Kuti ... ... ...
475
16
112
3-37
Hussainiyeh ... ... ...
7 00
22
134
3*14
Bedrai
7-00
22*5
156 5
3*21
Jessan
3-75
13
169*5
3'45
Kut-’l-Amara
s
11*25
40
209*5
3*55
20 th August-General direction, S. Left Hassan A glia’s house in
Karmanshah (4,760 ). Drove as far as Dilkusha; his summer residence
situated among orchards and gardens in the deep valley, which runs south of
the town. We left the town by the north side, making a wide detour to
avoid the narrow streets.
The valley extends 5 miles south of the town, and is about a mile wide
bordered by^ rounded hills. Down it flows a stream from a large sprino',
which supplies the gardens, and eventually the town being led through the
streets of the town by several small channels.
Mulberry, walnut, apple, pear, quince, plums, apricots, figs, pomegranates,
grapes and melons were the various fruits grown.
The road led between high mud walls which separate each orchard.
On passing the spring at the head of the valley, the road ascends gradually
a low range, the Safed Kuh, through a succession of rounded hills (summit of
ridge 5,865 ). The hillsides are withered up, but the soil is rich, and in spring
grass is abundant. _ Some patches of maize and wheat stubble passed. The
descent from the ridge is steeper than the ascent, and stony and rou«di in
places. Hassan Agha sometimes drives by this road to Zeilan.
Sod is a light clay. A loose shaley limestone rock crops up here and there.
At the foot of the range entered the upper end of the Mahidasht plain.
. ZeiL( \ n -—^ 15 miles halt at Zeilan, a village with a large orchard and
vineyard on a stream, called the Murad Su, which flows down the centre of
the plain, W.N.W. towards Mahidasht. On passing Mahidasht this stream
makes a bend to the north and forms the head waters of the Kara Su At
this season the villagers desert their houses, and live in booths of branches and
ned leaves set up on the plain close by. Corn has just been harvested, and
stacks were waiting to be threshed. The plain is 6 to 8 miles broad, and can
be seen extending N.W towards Mahidasht for some 30 miles and S.E. for
about 8 miles where the hills close in.