'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' [‎148r] (300/312)

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stick of grim has exuded from the broken portion. This is clear and trans
parent, and is the best quality.
The villagers collect this, and on the second day another portion appears
of a brownish colour, not so valuable; on the third day another stick is
gathered of a poorer quality, and after that the shrub is allowed to sprout
again. .... ,
To the south of the town is a stream from a large spring which comes down a
ravine, and is used to supply the town with water. The
Water-supply of slopes are lined with fruit gardens irrigated from the stream,
town. Some fine walnut, mulberry, chenar, and poplar trees are
grown. Grapes, pears, apples, peaches, apricots, plums, figs, and mulberries
are the chief fruits. The governor has a summer palace in this valley called
Dilkusha, lately purchased by Hassan Agha. .
Firewood is brought in from the mountain ridges to the south, principally
from the Kuh-i-Yardalan (see Route II). _
Fine descriptions of lime, like plaster of Paris (called getch), are brought in
from the same district, and used for interior decorations of the houses.
Handsome coloured tiles are also extensively used in decoration of the
better class of Persian houses. , , ,
The best houses are of burnt briek, opening on an inner courtyard, through
which streams of water are led and fountains play. The commoner houses
are of sundried bricks or mud with doorways faced with burnt brick. Ihere
are several lime and brick kilns outside the town, the fuel used being the stalks
of the
plain.
suss” or wild liquorice plant which is found in quantities on the
On the 16th August drove in Hassan Agha’s carriage to visit the rock
sculptures of the Tak-i-Bostan. , • p o m ^
After going in a direction 63° across the plain for 3 miles reached
the Imadiah palace on the left bank of the Kara-Su^ The river is here from
10 to 50 yards wide, 2 feet deep, and not fordable in flood. Theieis a small
ferry boat which would hold two mules. It is a sluggish stream, between clay
banks 15' to 20' high, and consequently of no use for irrigation purposes.
Imadiak palace.—The Imadiah palace was built some 50 years ago^ by the
Imad-ud-Doulab, grandson of Fathi Ali Shah. It is now unoccupied, and
gradually falling into disrepair. It is a three-storied building facing the uver,
and profusely decorated inside in the Persian style. On the noith side is
a garden 250 yards square, enclosed by a strong brick wall 1
with two tiers of loopholes—the upper along a banquette at the top of the wa ,
and the lower in a sort of casemated gallery along the bottom.
The walls are well built and some 6 feet thick at the bottom, and have
round towers at each corner. Altogether it is an exceptionally strong place as
Persian forts are constructed, and would form an important tactical position.
Tak-i-Bostan. —Bearing 32° from Karmanshah, and 6 miles distant, is t e
Tak-i-Bostan, remarkable chiefly for the ancient rock-cut inscriptions, which
have been frequently described. . . „ir«v onrl
There are some large springs, and a small riser comes gushm 0 , deal and
6old ou of thXse of^the wall of rock above it. It is led into two large tanks
ptoted with trees. The adjoining plain would form a good camping-ground
for troons and would be close to tbis fine watei-supply*
Agh P a Hassan has recently purchased the Tak-i-Bostan and a large slice of
the adjoining land, and proposes building a summer residence here
Kuh-i-Paru. —Immediately north of the Tak-l-Bostan rises a sei e y
steep mountain ranges composed entirely of pinnacles of limestone rock, and