'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' [‎122r] (248/312)

ar' 1 streams. Ascend gradual!)' a broad grassy slope, and at 9^ miles dip
slightly into a narrow V-shaped valley with a stream flowing west. The road
ascends steeply out to the head of this (10,235'), and at 1 4 miles reach the
summit of a called the Geshkalin Pass (11,050'). There is small grave
yard at the summit.
Geshkalin Pass. —On either side steep rounded hills rise about 2,000
feet. This is the Barajul Dagh, and constitutes the watershed between the
Bhotan Su and the Zab, towards which we descend.
The general level of the Barajul Dagh is from 1^,000 to 13,500 feet.
The summits of the hills are sometimes rocky peaks, but the sides are
o-rassy, with numerous small springs.
All round the horizon from 90° to 300° is a continuous chain of high
snowclad mountains.
Although this is a considerably higher level than the Boshik pass, there are
few snow drifts, and the edge of the plateau near Maidan Jashush seemed to
have the coldest climate. Commence descent from the head of the pass, follow
ing a valley bordered with shelving grassy slopes. Several springs were passed,
which quickly joined and formed a large stream.
The soil is a rich black loam, and the remains of several former camp grounds
were passed.
Saris khan Valley .—The descent is easy at first, but the valley gets nar
rower, and soon becomes V-shaped with steep stony sides.
Two long spurs, with a line of rounded steep summits, run parallel to the
valley on either side. The grass gets poorer as we descend ; quantities of
karnoch and gavvan were seen, and the slopes get steeper and barer, and are
now of a loose shale. This is called the Sariskan valley.
At 18| miles the valley sinks to the right, and we follow a 2-feetdledge
(9,61 O') along to hillside, gradually trending to the left. A few camps of
Hartoshi Kurd with their flocks were noticed on the hillsides. A good view is
obtainable from here of the country towards the Zab (Route XII). The Sariskan
stream flows in a direction 125° in a narrow valley bordered by grassy terraces
using one above the other. On reaching the plain it cuts its way to the Zab
in a narrow ravine 50 feet to 80 feet deep bordered by low cliffs.
At 20| miles we turn sharp to the left along a contour of the hill and
reach a col (9,325') dividing the Sariskan from another similar valley to the
north-east.
Keurik .—From the col the road descends diagonally the right side of the
valley, passing the village of Keurik deep down to the left on a little grassy
terrace.
At 22 miles the path led down a very steep slope into the bottom of the
vallev (8,245'), and then followed the bank of a small torrent.
Every loop of the stream is cultivated with patches of wheat and barley,
and the irrigation cuts are sometimes led for 3 or 4 miles along the contours
of the hills.
At 25 miles the level of the Bashkala plain is reached (7,700').
This plain is a broad terrace of rich gravelly soil, irrigated by various
small stream from the Barakul Dagh, and extending south-east to the Zab
and north-east to Bashkala; the streams flow across it in deep ravines
eaten out of the soft soil. Bashkala could be seen now bearing 25° from here,
and we joined a broad gravelly track which leads across the plain towards it.
This is one of the two roads from Bashkala to Julamerk across the hills.
The other road follows the Zab valley more to the south-east. Several mule
caravans were met on their way to Julamerk. Every one in the caravan was