!['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' [‎150r] (304/312)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000912.0x00004d/IOR_L_PS_20_144_0328.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "'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' [‎150r] (304/312)")
'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' [150r] (304/312)
The record is made up of 1 volume (152 folios). It was created in 1890. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
NOTES ON TRANSPORT.
Pack saddles in Baghdad are seen coming from all parts of the east for
camels, mules, yabus and donkeys.
Though none of them are much to look at, each is the result of perhaps
several generations of actual experience in road and mountain transport.
The Persian “ palan ” is the commonest sort in use for mules, and is made
of two curious semi-circular pads joined to a high peak at each end. Round
the edge is a broad rim of padding. This is used in Karmanshali, Sihna, and
all through West Persia. Large numbers are made in Rarmanshah. tor
donkeys the same pattern exactly, though a smaller size, is used.
The construction is very simple, the pack being made of rough sacking
stuffed with straw. The weight is lifted well off theanimaPs back, and taken
partly by the projecting pads of straw and the rim Carried down the animal s
side, while over the centre of the back it is hollowed out. ...
There is a single leather girth and a broad, leather breeching held in position
by two breeching straps. Very little leather is used, and nothing liable to get
easily out of order. '
A breastband is used in most cases, but not invariably. There are no buckles
at all, and such articles are much prized and liable to be stolen by muleteers.
Girth and other fastenings are made by a pliable leather thong knotted
to an iron ring sewn on to the pad.
A leather surcingle is used over the load, and no numdah is used.
Packs are not removed when animals come in after the march ; only for a
short time while they are being groomed. They are seldom injured by the ani
mals rolling, which they invariably do directly the load is taken off.
Ordinary pack mules are never bitted, but led about by a halter wit i
an iron noseband, to which is attached a short picketing chain carried looped
loosely round the mule’s neck when marching. In North-West and West ler-
sia it is customary to tie the whole caravan head to tail by these chains, e^P®*
cially if passing through the narrow streets of a town. In Baghdad this is
scarcely ever done, and on the rough mountain tracks of Kurdistan it would
be dangerous to do so. t . .
In bad places the muleteer generally holds the leading chain in his han ,
and on some occasions the mules are guided by head and tail.
To picket a caravan of 8 animals, two iron pegs are driven in the ground
and connected by a rope of camel’s hair about 80 feet long, to which pic eting
chains are attached. For a restive animal a forefoot hobble is used ; but alter
along march animals show little disposition to break loose.
The Arab “ palan ” or pack is seen on the Mesopotamian plain, and also
in West Persia. It is a somewhat simpler looking construction than the
Persian •
It consists of two rectangular pads of rough sacking stuffed with straw
well set up in the centre, secured by a broad leather girth breeching, an in
some cases breastband. i i i • 1
In the Pusht-i-Kuh the pack saddle used for mules and donkeys con sis-
ed simply of a pad of straw about 8 inches in diameter bent into a nairow
shape, the distance between the two sides being not more than 6 inches.
This is placed on the animal’s back over a thick cloth or ‘‘ jhool, aur ’ a
crupper and breast plate secure it in position. The same pattern of saddle can
be seen in India.
2 i 2
About this item
- Content
Narrative report on surveys conducted in Mesopotamia [Iraq], North-West Persia [Iran] and Luristan [Lorestān]. The preface provides the following information:
'The object was to explore various tracts of little known country through which roads lead north from the head of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to the Waliat of Van and North-West Persia near Urmia. To accomplish this, two routes through Luristan from the Tigris valley were travelled. In southern Kurdistan the roads from Kifri to Sulaimaniah, from there to Rawanduz, and Rawanduz to Amadiyeh, were gone over in Turkey, and Suj-Bulak to Karmanshah through Sakiz and Sihna in Persia. The country south of lake Van to Mosul was traversed in the routes Amadiyeh to Mosul, Mosul to Jazirah, Jazirah to Bashkala, Bashkala to Urmia, and Urmia to Suj Bulak through Ushnu.'
The report contains the following illustrations:
- Tak-i-Girra, looking east (f 42).
- Sketch showing the Town of Rawanduz [Rāwāndūz], (f 63).
- Sketch showing the bridge at Rawanduz. (f 66).
- Sketch showing Amadiyeh [Al 'Amādīyah] from the north-east, (f 76).
- Sketch showing the bridge of Mosul (f 85).
The report contains the following maps:
- Pass of Tak-i-Girra, on the Baghdad-Kermanshah Route, December 1889 (f 41).
- Country in vicinity of Rawanduz, May 1889 (f 64).
- Plateau of Amadiyeh and surrounding country, June 1888 (f 74).
- Plan of Mosul and surrounding country, corrected from Jones' survey, August 1889, (f 87).
- Country between Feishkhabur [Fīsh Khābūr] and Zakho, June 1888, (f 101).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (152 folios)
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 154; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
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- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'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' [150r] (304/312), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/144, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100035451480.0x000069> [accessed 30 March 2025]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/20/144
- Title
- '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'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:40v, 42r:63v, 65r:73v, 75r:85r, 85r, 86r:86v, 88r:100v, 102r:153v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence