'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' [‎69v] (143/312)

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the neighbourhood. He is a middle-aged man, and is held in the greatest
veneration by the Kurds for his religious life. His house is on a spur at the
north-west end of the village, and is well built of stone, loopholed, the
basement being cut out of the soft white limestone. Round the walls are
clustered the black tents of some of his retainers. Large herds of cattle and
sheep and a drove of 100 brood mares are kept by him in the district. The
Turks have removed all political power from the old Begs and Kurdish chiefs,
but under the guise of religious instruction these Shaikhs exercise a very large
influence over these fanatical ignorant people.
The wooded slopes extend from two to three miles from the base of
the main range, and beyond that towards the Zab lies a bare undulat
ing country with a fertile soil; the valleys are well-watered and culti
vated, chiefly with rice and maize crops. A broad tract runs from Begil
to Akra, 4 hours distant in a north-west direction across some low gravelly
mounds.
28th May—General direction, east-north-east. Left Begil, and crossed
the ravine below the village, where was a broken, masonry bridge, and ascended
a broad track over the range to the east. The hillside is thickly wooded with
low oaks and a few junipers. A camp of Kurds in booths of branches was
passed at the summit of the hill (3,940').
Zebar Pass .—This is called the Zebar Pass, and the whole of the rocky
ridge between here and the Serderria Pass leading to Rawanduz is quite im
passable for mules. The view towards Mosul presents a withered treeless plain
undulating and cut up by gravelly ravines in all directions.
Easy descent following a thickly-wooded spur. Soil stony but rich, grow
ing great variety of flowers and grass. Some oaks measured 3 feet diameter:
as a rule they were from IS" to 2', and stunted.
In the shaley vertical strata we crossed a seam of coal cropping out along
the hillside parallel to the direction of the ridge and
Seam o£ coal. about 200 yards broad. It seemed rather bituminous,
but burnt well in the camp fire in the evening.
Amada Talley .—At 6 | miles reach foot of decent, rather steep near the
bottom, and cross valley of Amada, 2 to 3 miles broad, shut in by two steep
parallel ridges, containing a very fertile soil, with several large springs of
good water. Some groves of large oak, walnut orchards, and a few vineyards
scattered on the hillsides. Amada is a village of 100 well-built houses on a
small knoll at the east side of the valley. Population mostly Jews.
Some Kurds living in small booths made of branches were in the valley,
feeding the flocks.
The valley runs up 300° for some 20 to 25 miles, and is 2 to 3 miles broad
crossed by several low-wooded spurs from the ridges on either side. In a
direction 100 ° it extends for about 6 miles, after which it narrows in, and is
closed by steep rocky ridges at right angles.
Piris Dagh .—Cross the valley and ascend the ridge bounding the valley to
the north-east, called the Piris Dagh. It is a steep, rough path following a
ravine choked with boulders and loose stones. A good deal of clearing would
be necessary to make it passable for artillery. The hills are well wooded, and
abound in ibex, partridges, &c.
The track improves at half a mile from the summit (3,560'), which we
reach at 10| miles. A good view is obtainable of the Zab valley below
us. The snowy peak of the Boz Dagh bears 63°. One track leads direct to
Rezan (direction 66 °). It is very steep and rough, the hill slope being 36°.
Our track kept along the hill more to the north-west. It was a ledge only a