'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' [‎21r] (46/312)

'The principal houses have “ serdabs ” or underground cellars, where people
retire in the day time in the hottest months. The nights are cool in the hot
months, and the climate not nearly so debilitating as the Indian hot weather.
In Appendix I will be found a weather report taken on the river steamer
Khalifa from January to September 1886.
An ample supply for working steamers by petroleum is available in the sur
rounding districts, the chief sources of supply being
Petroleum supply. wellg at Kifri and Kirkuk. Petroleum was
burnt for a short time on board Lynch's steamers, but the Turks prevented the
company obtaining it any longer. It was brought in skins from Mendali and
Kirkuk to the river bank.
At Hit on the Euphrates, and at various points on the banks of the Tigris
between Mosul and Tikrit, are bitumen deposits.
Messrs. Lynch's chief engineer states that for equal weights the heating
power to be gained from petroleum is three times that of coal—also it would
give a much larger stowage room for cargo.
At present the steamers carry all the coal necessary for the voyage from
Basra to Baghdad : although there is a stock kept at Amara and Kut-'l-Amara,
it isr seldom used.
This native petroleum was also introduced for lighting the city of Baghdad,
but no trouble being taken to refine it, it had to give way to imported Russian
and American oils.
♦
Routes from Baghdad.
Route to KarmanshaJi .—The main route into West Persia lies through.
Karind and the Tak-i-Girra pass [see Route HI). To Karmanshah is a dis
tance of 216^ miles, and from there 103 miles to Hamadan and 290 on to Tihran,
making the total distance Baghdad to Tihran to be 500 miles [see Routes in
Persia, 197, 384).
The stages are—
Intermediate. Total.
• .
Miles.
Miles.
1. Bakuba
• ••
... 33
33
2. Shahraban
... 26
59
3. Kizil Rabat
... 17
76
4. Khanikin
• ••
• ••
... I 85
941
5. Kasr-i-Shirin
,,,
... 16
110 |
6 . Sir-i-Pul
• ••
• ••
... 18
128|
7. Karind
...
... 29
357|
8 . Harunabad
• ••
... 19
176|
9. Mahidasht
...
... 22
lOSj
10 . Karmanshah
...
• ••
... 18
216|
There is a direct route through Mendali, the Gun jir Valley and Zarna to
Karmanshah, described in Route II. The total distance is 226£ miles; 10
miles longer than the above, because of the windings of the road, although in a
straight line it is shorter. 0
This route is now almost unfrequented. Judging from the ruined bridges,
serais, &c., at various points, it was once used as a trade route.
Route to Mosul .—The post route to Mosul lies to the east of the Tigris, and
runs through Kifri, Altun Keupri and Arbil. (Total distance 298 miles*)