'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' [‎34v] (73/312)

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The poorer tents are very much smaller and meaner.
The people were engaged in cultivating the small patches of maize and
rice along the river bank or tending their flocks, and seemed peaceable.
Letters or a guide from Hassan Agha in Karmanshah are necessary.
Routes through the Char do war Valley.
The Chavdowar valley lies immediately south of the Vardalan Range, and
is 5 to 6 miles broad, crossed by numerous low undulating spurs.
A rounded ridge, the Charmin Kuh, separates it from the Zangawan
valley immediately to the south. The Ab-i-Chenara skirts the south side
and a stream from Zangawan, flowing through a deep gorge in the Charmin
Kuh, joins it below Chardowar. To the south of Zangawan lies the Sirwan
valley, separated from it by a low wooded ridge {see sketch from summit
of Vardalan Pass). Beyond this rises the Gatcha Kuh, a lofty range, the
lower slopes of which are well wooded, terminating to the north-west in Manisht
Kuh, and extending south-east some 25 to 30 miles formed of parallel ridges
which run north-west and south-east. The two low ridges bounding the Sirwan
valley are outliers from the Gatcha Kuh. Situated just over Sirwan is a huge
gap or dip in the Gatcha Kuh, bordered by precipices, and looking most
inaccessible called the Mil-a-Gawan, a name sometimes given to the whole
range. The Lurish word “ mil ” means a neck or pass. No road or track led
through it.
Zangawan valley is about 6 miles broad, down the centre of which flows
a small river, the Ab-i-Zangawan, through the Taug-i-Zangawan to join
the Ab-i-Chenara. A green fringe of irrigated maize and rice crops,
varying from 4 mile to | mile wide, follows the stream bank. The ridges
are well wooded. A “tree limit,” above which no trees grew, could be
traced along the Gatcha Kuh and at the Dalowa pass was found approximately
7,120'. The southern entrance of the Tang-i-Salim, through which the
Ab-i-Chenara emerges, lies due north of Chardowar. While crossing the
Vardalan Range, occasional glimpses were caught of the river below in a
narrow gorge, bordered by enormous clilfs.
Five miles to the south-east is another break in the range, the Tang-i-Bai,
through which a difficult road leads, said to be unfit for mules? Just
before reaching Chardowar, a horseman of Hassan Ghuli Khan's people passed
through ; having left Hullilan before sunrise, came through the Tang-i-Bai,
and expected to reach Dehbala that evening.
Hublan was said to be 10 farsakhs distant ; but this seems excessive—
probably 7 or 8 . In a south-east direction the Chardowar valley seems to
extend some 20 miles, at which point the ridges close in. Beyond this lay a
hilly, rough country cut up with deep ravines.
lo the north-west an easy route, over some rounded clay spurs, led to
the Asmanabad plateau and Charmilia, and from there to Zarua and Iwan
{see Route I). One way of avoiding the steep Vardalan Pass is to ascend
the valley thus to Charmilia, and then cross the Kaladja Pass, and reach
Kai mans hah through Gouaraj and Harunabad. The Kaladja is a continua
tion of the Vardalan Range, and the pass there is easier.
The Ab-i-Chenara flows along the foot of the north-west slope of the
Charmin Kuh and joins the Kerkhah which comes through the Tang-i-Bai at
the south-east end of the Rudbar plain.
23rd August.— General direction, W. Left Chardowar at 3 a. at. by
moonlight, and forded the river immediately afterwards.