'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' [‎71v] (147/312)

From here we turned again into the high road to Bashkala. We had another pass to cross
before descending into the valley of Harouna, where our caravan had encamped for the night.
From the summit of the pass we looked down into two deep and well-wooded valleys hemmed
in by mountains of a singularly picturesque form. In that to the left we could indistinctly see
two large villages. Erawa and Serconos j the latter once the dwelling place of the Mirs of Shemes-
den. We descended into the more northern valley, and passing the miserable Nestonan hamlet of
Sourasor and the ruined church and deserted Christian village of Tellana, reached our tents about
sunset near Harouna, a small Nestorian village, the inhabitants of which were too poor to furnish
us with even coarse barley bread. .,
Next day a low ridge separated us from the district of Gavvar, a remarkable plain of consider-
auiu extern}, . . „ , V ttt\
For routes leading from Gavvar plain to Bashknla and Lrmia (see Route A 111;.
30th May—General direction, N.N.E. Left Bila Keupri (1,4701,
passed up the valley in a westerly direction throng’ll Heren and Bazi: the
valley narrows as we ascend, and is bounded by bare stony ridges. Wheat
was being cut green to try and save it from the locusts.
The rocky soil was formed into little terraces cleared of stones, the greater
part of which are now uncultivated. Water for these villages is from small
wells, and is found 6 feet below the surface.
Galas/tinea Pass—A.t 5 miles the road turns to the north through a rocky
gap (1,730') called the Galashinea Pass. On a spur at the head of the valley,
2 miles to the west, is Kala Hukher, a dismantled fort which belonged to
Shaikh Zaire, a powerful chief of the Zebari Kurds, who was imprisoned at
Mosul 12 years ago. An alternative pass more rocky and difficult crosses the
ridge by the castle. . .
The valley which we ascend is stony and rough, the hillsides being sheets
of bare rock for the most part. Some wells were passed, curious masonry
arched cisterns 20 * x 10 ' : the water in them is stagnant and bad.
S/inea .—Kear the summit Shinea is passed (2,765 ), a village watered by
a spring from the hillside, and a large underground tank. ^ Shaikh Kuri,
a man with considerable religious influence among the Zebari Kurds, lives
here, in what appears to he an old church. Turkish is not understood in these
villages ; only Kermanji.
At 10 2 miles the top of the pass was reached (3,155 ), and from there
a very steep rugged descent to the Zab following a narrow ravine choked with
boulders, jagged stones and shrubs. It was difficult work for mules, who
took 1 hour and 50 minutes to descend. There is a small spring half-way
uuvvu.
S/iinea Su Serna .—Halted by the river hank (1,425 ) on a small stretch of
grass 100 yards broad and ^ mile long, the only open space for some distance
in this valley. It is called Shinea Su Serna. The total descent from the sum
mit of the pass is 1,730'. Rocky ridges dotted with low trees rise immediately
on either bank. The river here is 50 to 60 yards broad with a deep rapid torrent.
To the north is the Shirindari Dagh, a steep range cut up by several wooded
gorges and in these are several large caves, supplied with water, where Kurds
live in the summer. To the south is the Shinea Dagh we have just come
over.
No road follows the right hank, as cliffs jut in the water and bar all
progress.
There is a narrow ledge on the left bank on which were seen a few ruined
buildings and disused terraces.
This would be an alternative route to the one which we took from Bila
Keupri; the Zab being crossed near Rezan and the left bank followed from
there.
No raft was available, and the water was too high for crossing at Rezan,
so our present route was taken. The ruins of a bridge across the river exist