'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' [‎53r] (110/312)

Martini Peabody rifles: this was necessary if they were to cope with the
Hamawands, who are armed with the same weapon.
There is a Persian Consul here. The telegraph, a single wire, goes from
here to Kirkuk, where it joins the main line from Baghdad to Mosul.
The water-supply of the town is very good, and is from some large springs
bubbling out of the gravelly soil on the outskirts of the town.
There is a very fine bath, where one of these springs is utilized and five
serais in the town.
The climate now is very pleasant with the temperature 68° at noon, but
in another month the weather commences to get hotter, and July and August
are the hottest months.
Very little snow falls on the plain, but the routes leading into Persia are
partially blocked in winter.
Routes from Sulaimaniali.
The principal trade route with Baghdad is through Kirkuk, although the
more direct one lies over the Zagirma pass.
The stages are—
(1) Camp after six hours. The villages are mostly deserted.
(2) Chemchemal, eight hours.
(3) Kirkuk, eight hours,
making a total of about 65 miles to Kirkuk and 252 to Baghdad.
The Karadagh is crossed by an easy pass, easier than the Sagirma.
The telegraph follows this route to Kirkuk. The country from the foot of
the Kara Dagh to Kirkuk is a rolling gravelly plain cut up by deep valleys. A
few small villages and a fertile grass country lies between Sulaimaniah and
Chemchemal. Either Altun Keupri or Kirkuk, both on the Mosul-Baghdad
road, can be reached from Chemchemal. This route is very insecure at
times from the Hamawands.
Mr. Hodgson, a missionary from Baghdad, travelled in September 1886
from Sulaimaniah to Tank, passing through Chemchemal. He says few of the
villages marked on the maps are now in existence, and the country is depopu
lated by the Hamawand raiders. From Chemchemal to Tauk is a fertile
country with numerous streams, but quite deserted. Near Tauk were several
stream valleys lined with orchards and gardens.
The following is a precis of Rich’s journey along this route :
Sulaimaniah to Altun Keupri.
1st Stage, 21st October 1822.—Left Sulaimaniah at 6-30 A.M. Crossed the undulating plain
of Sulaimauiah, passing the large village of A1 Bulak on the left.
At li miles crossed the Tanjiru or Serchinar river, a small stream in a bed 100 yards wide.
On its right bank was Bliaseh village, and, after passing the large village of Bavun Mirdeh, we
reached Kilespi or Tepresh at 9-25 A.M., where we halted.
This land is watered by a small stream running south-east to join the Tanjiru. Gudrum
Mount was just opposite, forming a wall of rock, including north-west and south-east. The west-
ern range of hills was visible 1 to 1 ^ miles off, crowned by a crest or line of rock growing
higher to the south. Temperature, 2 P.M. 85°; 10 P.M. 59°.
2nd Stage, October 22nd. —Left 6-20 A.M., making a detour to avoid a morass. Soon after 7
we came to the Tasluji Hill, where the line of hills is broadest and lowest, and where the stony
crest disappears. After a gentle assent an hour’s ride brought us into the Bazian plain. This
is divided down the centre by a line of lower hills than the Karadagh, terminating a little to the
south of our road.
At 10-20 wm turned south-west to Derghezin, the hills dividing the plain _ making a similar
bend, and soon gradually terminating. Derghezin lies under a low range coming from Derbend,
and running towards the ridge in the centre of the plain, but leaving an opening in the west
ern side of the Bazian plain. At 10-50 reached Derghezin, and halted.