'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎193] (250/905)

CHAP. IX.] THE RIVER KERKHAH, 193
every possible direction. But as the affluents, like those of
most other countries, are known by names different from
those of the trunks to which they belong, it is desirable to
give, from the examinations made in 1831 and 1836, as well
as from other materials, a brief notice of the leading streams :
in so doing, it will be convenient to commence on the
western side, as this may assist in removing some of the
misapprehensions respecting them into which both ancient
and modern writers have fallen.
One of the most important of these water-courses is the Three branches
Kerkhah, or Kerah, which begins to flow in three branches, oftheKerkhah-
all springing considerably eastward of Kirman-shah. The
first, and most inconsiderable, has its commencement about
25 miles west of Hamadan. 1 The second has three springs
on the side of Mount Elwand, or Orontes, six or eight miles
south of that place. The latter runs south-westward till it
meets the former in the plain of Maran, about 10 miles
south-west of Kangawar; and, at a spot nearly 10 miles
south of that place, it is joined by the third, or chief
branch of the Kerkhah, which comes from the Guran
mountains by a N.W. course of about 40 miles.
The trunk of the three united streams, under the name of The Gamasab.
the Gamasab river (of which the second above-mentioned
may, from its northern and central position, be considered
as the main branch), winds for nearly 30 miles in a general
westerly direction to Bisutun, 2 chiefly along the Guran
mountains. At this celebrated spot the Gamasab receives
the Abi-Denawar, coming from the north; and again, after
a course of about 12 miles nearly S.W., another stream,
called the Kara su, passing through Kirman-shah at about
20 miles N.N.W. 3 of that place. The direction of the main
trunk is nearly south, until it receives, at a few miles from
1 Major Rawliuson's March from Zohdb to Khuzistdn.—Vol. IX. Part I.,
of the Royal Geographical Journal.
2 Baghistane of the Greeks.—MS. of Mr. A. Staunton ; also Major Rawlin-
son; see Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, Vol. IX. Part I., p. 82.
3 As the Kard sii forms part of the Kerkhah, it was very naturally con
sidered to be identical with it, until the point was cleared up by Major
Rawlinson, during his march along the Zagros, to Susiana, &c.