'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' [‎53v] (111/312)

80
Temperature, 6 a.m. 56°; 2 p m. 84°; 10 p.m. 64°.
3rd Stage, October 23rd. — Left 6-30 a.m., and proceeded up the valley formed by a small
line of hills just behind Derghezin, and another similar one opposite, also coming north-west
from Derbend and running to Bazian. At 7-20 traversed the Bazian pass. The strata dip
here, and the pass runs through the gap. The outside ridge is a continuation of the Karadagh.
North-west of the pass the Karadagh runs for a short distance forming a perpendicular wall •
then turning a little west to Chermala Hill, and then more to the west to the Khalkhalan Hill',
The Karadagh diminishes in height all the way from the Zagirmapass, where it is highest. Cher-
mala and Khalkhalan are inconsiderable; they seem of earth, and their sides are much furrowed.
Soon after this the line of hills terminates.
Aghjalar is a district beyond Chermala, reaching to the Lessar Zab, and contains ten villages.
At 10-30 passed Ghezalan, and after this the level began to rise again, and the road was broken and
hilly.
At 12-10 halted in Ghulumkowa in the Chouan district.
Temperature, 6-0 A.M. 62°; 2 p.m.*84°; 10 p.m. 64°.
4th Stage, October 24th .— Left 6-15 a.m.. and ascended out of the narrow ravine in which
Ghulumkowa is situated. Soil is earth and pebbles with ledges of sandstone. The whole tract is
thrown up into little hills scoped out into deep abrupt ravines, sometimes cut 60 feet deep by the
watercourses.
Pass two deep and difficult ravines and the village of Ghnilkowa. Prom here the road wound
along the tops of this furrowed and hillocky country. A few fruit trees were seen in the hollows ;
otherwise nothing green was seen Gudrum peak was still visible as a landmark. All the streams
yesterday and today ran towards the south-east.
At 7-30 a road branches off to Kirkuk ; and at 9-20 halted in village of Kafar.
Temperature, 6-0 a.m. 50° ; 2 p.m. 88 °.
5th Stage, October 25th. — Left 6-0 a.m. in a direction N. 30° W., and crossed a stream which
supplies several villages and a great number of mills, each in a cluster of trees. This valley gra
dually widens down into the plain of Gok Dereh.
From here we entered a wide p'ain, gravelly soil, but well cultivated. Large villages in every
direction. The Kizbir hills were before us stretching from our left, and the plain extended to the
foot of them.
And to our right was a continuation of broken hilly country we have just left. At noon reached
Altun Keupri. The town is not seen until close to it.
The Tigris is reached in 18 hours by caravan travelling from here. When the river is full, a
raft will go in a day. At this season it takes three days.
A force on its way to Baghdad with 18 guns forded here, and found not more than 3 or 4 feet
of water along a bank which sloped across the stream. They also forded the gre^t Zab.
Kui Sanjak, which lies N. 35° E., is 12 hours on horseback fast walking, and 18 caravan hours.
There are two. roads, one of which lies along the right bank of the river, which it quits about six
hours from Kui Sanjak. It is broken and hilly all the way, but there is no mountain to pass.
Route to Mosul .—To Mosul the most direct route goes north-west up a
broad valley from Sulaimaniah as far as Dukhan ferry on the Lesser Zab.
From Dukhan the road strikes more west, across a hilly country to Kui
Sanjak, and from there to Mosul is over an undulating country. [Colonel
Bell’s Turkey in Asia.) The stages are—
( 1 ) Karachatan.
(2) Dukhan.
(3) Kui Sanjak.
(7) Mosul,
making a total of 172 miles.
(4) Ashkaf Sakka.
(5) Arbil.
( 6 ) Kalak (Great Zab).
Route to Sihna .—The direct route to Sihna lies through
stages are [Colonel Gerard’s Routes in Kurdistan )—
(1) Mama Kulan ...
(2) Panjwin ... ... ... .„
(3) Merivan ... .... ... ...
(4) Shaikh Attar ... ... ... ...
(5) Baroda
(6) Sihna ... ... ... ...
Panjwin.
Miles.
... 21
... 27
... 18
... 21
... 27
... 30
The
Total
144