'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎318] (427/496)

318
our progress in a direct line at about If miles per hour. At the latter
time we had reached the most northern brow* of the Dalahu heights
having skirted the entire face of what I term its S. E. prong. p rom
this point, the mountain trends a little to the southward of west, to its
extremity at Ban Zandeh. Here we observed Bibiyan and Killeh
Zanjir bearing respectively 143° and 162°. Proceeded at 8’15 in a
more westerly direction, over a less abrupt road to Paban,f an encamp
ment of Jaf Kurds. Here we remained an hour and a half to breakfast
with the Chief, and at 11*35 resumed our route, under an escort of Jaf
horsemen, our friends the Gurans accompanying us no further. At 1*5
we reached Mir-Khassar, a small plain just under the west brow of
Dalahu, at an elevation of about 7000 feet.J The last part of our
journey lay over ravines well watered by springs from the heights above,
and through forest land abounding with a great variety of game. Hares
and partridges were sprung at every footstep, and our guns yielded
additional luxuries to the Kurdish evening entertainment. The night is
deliciously cool, and some regret is felt at our being compelled to quit,
on the morrow, the renovating air of the mountains, for the pestilential
atmosphere of the neighbouring plains. Thermometer 50° during the
night.
September 2<M.—Left the encampment at Mir-Khassar at 5*53, and
commenced the descent of the mountain over a very rough and zigzag
road, in a direction of W. K. W. After an hour’s march the wooded paths
no longer afforded us any shelter from the sun, the oak now becoming
stunted and scarce. Another hour brought us to the foot of the range, and
the road now led straight for the village of Zohab, in a W. N. S. direc
tion, over numerous streams, which, flowing from the mountains above,
unite in the plain at their base. These petty streams are thickly bor
dered with the poisonous yet beautiful oleander. At 9*10 we reached
the miserable village of Zohab, glad enough to shelter ourselves from the
fierce heat, which we sensibly feel after our sojourn on the mountains, in
the mud domicile of the chief, who boasts of the proud title of Ibrahim
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ,—& title derived from a progenitor, Osman, who governed the
tv t? and Palan we crossed tlie valleys of Kam Koweh am
this 32GJ°~ 001 ei * I he hill ot Gudrun, in the Sulimaniyeh territory, bore fron
t Trom Palau the pass between Semiram and Sartak 329° by compass,
t Mir Khassar is in latitude 34° 35' N. f and 1° 33' 40" East of Baghdad.