'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' [‎131r] (266/312)

Although the Nestorians pay a special exemption poll-tax from military
service, the authorities have begun lately to make them serve as musicians in
the hands.
It is customary for the Nestorians to resort every year to Russia. Some
obtain work at Tiflis and other parts of the Caucasus as day-labourers and
artisans, while others confine themselves purely to legging, visiting Moscow
and St. Petersburg for this purpose.
There is probably no race in the world who are such persistent mendicants,
and they appear to do a thriving business at it.
It is computed that 5,000 Nestorians annually visit Russia, and that from
300 to 500 go for begging, the remainder for work. Begging brings in an
annual income of £4,000, and work £100,000.
They are relieved or robbed of a large portion of their gains on their
return to Persian soil by the Kurds, who are government guards, placed osten
sibly to check brigandage.
Urmia Plain.
The plain of Urmia stretches north and south along the west shore of the
lake for 50 miles, and west for 15 to 20 miles. It is thickly dotted over with
villages, numbering some 550, of which 200 are Christian, Nestorian, and
Armenian, and the remainder Musalman. The majority of the Musalmans
are Shiahs of Turkish extraction, talking the Turkish language. The large
Turkish tribe of Karapapak (Black Hats) settled here and in Sulduz.
Bounding the plain on the west is a range of rounded hills rising from
3,000 to 4,000 feet above the level of the lake.
Beyond this, along the Turkish frontier, forming a higher and parallel
line of hills, are the lofty ranges culminating in the Shaikh Iwa peak above
Ushnu, and the peaks above Gavvar and the Mur Dagh.
Pgtween these two lines of hills are a series of elevated valleys, the prin
cipal being Mergavvar, Tergavvar, and Baradost.
Beyond the frontier are a line of still more elevated valleys among the
hIdler ranges, Nutcha, Shemisden or Shamsdin, and Gavvar.
°To the south of the Urmia plain is Mount Seir or the Kuh-i-Seri, and a
Ion 0 ’eastward spur from it separates the Urmia from the Baranduz plain.
°South of Baranduz, along the southern shores of the lake, is Sulduz
plain watered by the Jerratu Su, a large stream flowing also through the
Ushnu plain and rising the frontier ranges. Baranduz plain is watered by a
stream called the Baranduz Ghai from the same hills. _
The plain to the north of Urmia is ail known as Anzal, and it merges
into the extensive plain of Salmas at the north-west extremity of the
lake Mergavvar, Tergavvar, and Baradost contain fertile soil, but are but
little cultivated owing to the unsettled state o£ the frontier districts. Two
crops of wheat in one year can be obtained there : the first sown in April, and
cut in August, and another sown in June, and cut in October.
The Sahar or Urmia Chai and the Nazlu Chai are the principal rivers of
the Urmia plain. They rise in the frontier, flow through narrow valleys in
the outer range of hills, and open out into the plain country before falling
into the lake. „ . . . . ,, . ,
The climate of Urmia is severe during the winter,
Climate. pleasant in the summer months.
There is usually rain in April and May, and again in the autumn in Sep.
tember, October, and November. In winter there is sometimes 2 feet of snow