'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' [‎47r] (98/312)

8th May.—General direction, N.W. Left Murkus and started towards
the Diala. Crossed the wide gravelly channel of a stream at the edg'e of a
small plain now almost dry. Then ascended a low range of undulations which
separated us from the Diala valley.
At 7J miles reached Salahi, a large village in the river valley. On a
hearing of 26° some 5 miles distant the Diala emerges from a gap in the hills,
and spreads out into a wide channel.
On the left bank is a thickly cultivated district, 3 to 4 miles wide, extending
south-west for a c; nsiderable distance. A large canal starting from the gap
in the hills waters this plain.
On the right hank are a succession of low hare undulations; with no canals
and only a little cultivation. Finding no raft to be obtained at Salahi, we
had to make a wide detour to the south, and finally found the means o£
making one at Shaikh Said, 5 miles further down.
Several large villages, Hamrala, Shaikh Said, and others, were visible
down the valley surrounded by a few orchards. There were six mills close by,
each with a tall watch tower attached. Some tumuli and marks of ruined
villages were seen, and the houses in the villages were built of bricks excavated
from these.
This district has suffered a great deal from Hamawand raiders. Many
mined houses in every village, and Shaikh Said half in ruins.
The inhabitants are Bagilans, a sort of half Arab, half Kurd, wearing
the Arab head dress ; they are to be found all down the Diala valley, and
talk Arabic and Kurdi. At 15^ miles we halted on the left bank of the Diala
and commenced constructing the raft.
Diala Kiv»r.— At the point where we crossed (TBS'), the river flows
in a stony bed about 1 mile wide, the water straggling over several channels.
On the left bank was a belt of osiers and sedges, i mile wide with several
muddy inlets, difficult for loaded mules. The right bank was firmer ground,
a series of conglomerate cliffs, 25 to 30 feet high.
We forded two-thirds of the way, across the smaller channels, and reached
a gravel bank on the main channel near the right bank where we put the raft
together.
The “ kalak,” or raft, was a reed framework, 7 feet square, supported on
10 inflated sheep skins, pushed and steered through the water by two men who
swam behind. The current was rapid and in flood, and the raft was taken
down 600 yards each crossing: the mules and horses swam.
The river is fordable in the autumn at several points, but the channel
changes from year to year, and the points of crossing also.
These rafts are very unsuitable ; the skins require constant mending and
blowing out, and to be kept always wetted. Larger rafts of 150 or 200 skins
could be used for crossing troops and guns.
On leaving the right bank and going 4^ miles in a northerly direction,
over a bare gravelly plain, we reached Shaikh Said, a Bagilan village, in a
small cultivated basin, 3 to 4 miles wide. A few small canals were seen, and
wheat and barley in small patches.
This plain, which extends to the north-east of the village, is the favourite
winter camping ground of the Jaf Kurds, a very large tribe who migrate into
Persian territory for the summer. They had left this neighbourhood about
a fortnight previous.
On a bare knoll on the left bank is a large stone building; the winter
residence of Muhammad Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , the Chief of the Jafs. He lives in Sulai-
maniah during the summer. It is sc bleak-looking place, with a round tower