'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' [‎18r] (40/312)

steep gorges and over enormous rocky ledges, and quite unnavigable. Thirty
miles south-west of Julamerk it receives on the right bank the Berdazawi
from the south-eastern slope of the Arabi Dagh; the Khabur and Bohtan-Su, all
rising in the same group of lofty mountains. Numerous small tributaries flow
in from the districts of Ashitha, Baz, Tkoma, and Salabacca.
South of Amadiyeh the Zab makes a sharp turn south-east, emerging into
a, small valley near Latka, where it receives the Ghara stream from the Amadiyeh
direction ; and farther on, the Ashkufa river, a large mountain stream rising in
the south-west slopes of Tura Bermarghil. The general course south-east of
Amadiyeh is through a very narrow valley with steep sides, in places only
about 40 yards broad.
It opens out in the Bila Keupri valley, but soon after reenters a series
of impassable rocky gorges. On the left bank it is joined by the Rawanduz
river, a large mountain stream formed of several others meeting near Rawanduz,
and rising in the Kandil Dagh and Shaikh Iva Dagh on the Persian
frontier.
About 10 miles west of the junction it emerges from the Berdm gorge, and
after that until it joins the Tigris is a broad stream over a wide gravelly bed,
containing a large body of water. It is proverbial among caravans for its
deep and treacherous nature and difficulty of crossing it.
About 12 miles below Kandil it receives the Akra, a tributary from the
north-west, and on the opposite bank the Bastorah Chai from the Heur
district to the south-east. Below Kalak it receives a large tributary, the
Ghazar-Su, from the Bahdinan district.
From the Berdin gorge, the course of the Zab is nearly south-west, and
it enters the Tigris by two branches—one dry in the low season.
The Tigris below the confluence of the (Treat Zab .—About 12 miles below
the confluence of the Great Zab and 32 below Mosul there is a ford, opposite
the Ziarat, Sultan Abdullah. Camels can ford here in October.
'Hie river now is broad with a very gentle current, with low flat hanks,
and the desert extends on either side as far as the eye can reach. The thick
forest mentioned by Chesney has now entirely disappeared, and nothing
remains but a few low oaks and acacia shrubs. Several hot springs and bitu
minous fountains are on the right bank. Some large streams enter the river
on the right bank in the rainy season, but are dry during the greater part of
the year.
At 38 miles below Mosul is Muishar, with some rapids.
At 61 miles is a great confusion of islands and passages.
Between 75 and 79 miles are several eddies and rapids.
Some 30 miles below Kala Shergat and 80 below Mosul the river passes
through the low Hamrin ridge, that rises about 150 feet above the plain.
The navigation is difficult, the current being rapid in places, and rocks, scarcely
seen above the water, have to be avoided.
Lesser Zab River.
On the left bank, 90 miles below Mosul, is a tributary called the
Lesser Zab. It rises in the Lahijan district, in north-west Persia, on the
eastern slopes of the Kandil Dagh, and flows at first S.S.E. in Persian soil,
until in latitude 36° it makes a sharp bend nearly north-west, passing through
the frontier ridges by a series of gorges, and flows into Turkish soil at the
valley of Pishder. From there it flows through Marga plain, where on the
right bank it receives a considerable affluent, the Khudran river, from the