'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' [‎54v] (113/312)

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Septemler 14th.—heit at 6-30 A.M., heading due south, descending a glen to the foot of the
Sirsir Mountain.
Soon afterwards quitted the glen and crossed the continuation of the range yesterday. We
then descended to the Siwell river, which runs by the foot of Sirsir, then north and a little
west, and joins the Karacholan at Mawutt, when they both run to the Zab.
We forded a broad bed, the channel being 12 to 15 yards wide and stirrup deep. It is
frequently unfordable, and has to be crossed on JcalaJcs. The country now became chalky.
Descended to Shehribazar plain and observed Pir-a-Magdurin and Giozheh hills, bare and
regular like a rampart as far as eye can reach. Soil now sandstone and conglomerate ; the
wood diminishing and almost disappearing, except in particular spots.
At 8-40 descended a deep valley or ravine into the valley of the Karacholan river, and passe d the
site of Karacholan, the old capital of Kurdistan. Halted at Sulimanava, a small garden. This
valley is famous for its fruit, grapes, and melons especially, and Sulaimaniah is chiefly supplied
from here.
The Karacholan river is the same as the Tenguzi, which rises in the direction of Dolidreizh,
and runs through the Kari Kazhav mountains. The bed of the Karacholan is i mile wide,
and just opposite the old city it receives the Chungura, flowing from Surochik. In winter
and spring the Karacholan is a very large river filling its bed. Some way further down was
a bridge of wicker work on stone piers.
September 15th .—Left at 6-15 A.M., and our road after leaving the Karacholan valley ascended
gently the whole way.
At 7-30 reached the foot of the Azmir Dagh, and began ascending the steepest part by
a very tolerable road zigzagging up the slope.
At 8-0 reached the summit, and, after going south for 5 minutes, began to descend. The
first part of the descent was not bad; then it ran along the edge of a precipice, where we
dismounted.
At 8-30 reached foot of principal descent and went south, gently descending a narrow
valley, until at 9-0 emerged on the Sulaimaniah plain, which town we reached at 10-0 a.m.
Route to KarmansJiah .—This route leads south-east down the valley
from Sulaimaniah. It is easy going until the country near the Diala is
reached.
The stages are [Colonel Bell’s Turkey in Asia)—
(1) Mohun ... ...
Miles.
25
( 2 ) Hallabja
20
(3) Nausud
...
23
(4) Distier ... ...
...
... 21
(5) Pawar
• ••
8
( 6 ) Mar-i-Kharwar
...
24
(7) Agha Hassan’s village
• ••
...
22
( 8 ) Guxabun
...
22
(9) Karmanskah ...
...
...
... 9
This makes a total of 346 miles from Mosul and 174 from Sulaimaniah to
Karmanshah.
Route to Zohab .—Another route lies down theKhanjiru valley, and across
the Diala to Zohab. Neither are used by caravans owing to the disturbed state
of the country.
Kurds round Sulaimaniah.
Hamawand Kurds .—The Hamawands live in the low hills to the north and
west of Sulaimaniah. They have no regular villages; their head-quarters
being round Chemchemal and Bazian. They are divided into four sections,
each under a chief, viz., Satenasur, Rashwand, Hamawand, and Safrawand.
They are mostly nomads, and determined robbers; they are well mounted,
some on Arabs which they have stolen from the plains, and are all armed
with Martini Peabodys obtained from the Turkish regular’s.