'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' [‎135r] (274/312)

The aspect of the country has changed very little. Grass was abundant in large tufts oft the
hillsides. A few junipers from 3 to 4 feet high were seen. ^ ,
The descent commenced«following a small ravine. The country seemed quite deserted, and no
villages were in sight. _ -u j . i j
There was no regular path, and the track was steep and rocky. In three cases we had to unload
the mules and pass the baggage over the worst parts by hand. This ridge marks the line of the
Turkish frontier. After the first sharp descent, we arrived at a point where another stream joined
the one which we had been following, and the road improved. Our track kept down the right bank
froinhere. after sunsetj an q we began to despair of finding a village wherein to halt for the
ni'o'ht Some slight showers of rain also commenced to fall, and at last, at a turning of the valley
on”the left bank"of the stream, we described the village of Kashkhan, consisting of about a dozen
huts inhabited by Kurds, who received us, although in rather an inhospitable manner.
Kiepert’s map places this village on the east side of the frontier on a tributary of the Char Chai,
while we found that it was on the west side of the frontier on a tributary of the Great Zab. It is
possible that there may be two villages of the same name
19th Septemler.—helt Eashkhan at 5-0 a.m., and followed the bank of the torrent for about
an hour • the valley then grew wider and the banks of the stream more fertile, occupied by meadow
and a few patches of cultivation. The stream banks are bordered by brushwood and an occasional
poplar or walnut tree. w
The road turned to our right up another small valley, leading in a general direction north. \\ e
commenced ascending another ridge from here, and the grass and trees grew scarcer.
On arriving at the top of the ridge a fine view opened out of the Bashkala plain at our feet. It
is some 20 miles broad, and at the foot of the valley ran the Great Zab, now a stream only about 10
^^A high'range of mountains, running generally north and south, bounds the horizon to the
west and some long spurs project into the plain at right angles to this. Towards the north these
seem to become lower. On this bank of the Zab it is the same formation, hut less accentuated.
The crests of the plateaux between the ravines which cross the plain are all the same height, so
that from a certain point one might say the level of the plain was continuous. The constant
descents and ascents crossing these ravines impede marching very much
Towards the south are some lofty ranges forming a gigantic chaos of ridges, the highest preci
pices of which are thickly covered with snow. at. i, i c onn
The descent from this ridge is along a stony path m a stream valley, the bed of which 200
vards to our right. Some 50 yards on either bank run a line of cliffs about 80 feet high, forming
l kind of second bed to the river. The current is very slow, and the stream winds like a serpent
The cliffs gradually narrowed in, and we descended by a steep path to the level of the stream
and crossed a small bridge at the foot of the descent. . , . , , i _
The distance between the cliffs is very narrow, the road turning sharp at right angles at either
end of the bridge. Some yards further on a large tributary flows in on the right bank, which we
' “On a spur we noticed the abandoned village of Kala Kerani, once a fortified post and place of
some importance. In the valley to our left flows an affluent of the Zab. .
W e cross soon after tbe Zab itself by a ford, and, after following a ravine in the plain, gradually
ascend until Bashkala is reached.
Route to Shamsdin.
Several paths cross the line of rounded hills to the west of Urmia, hut none
.of them are easy for caravans. , . T , , i c j n
It is two days from Urmia to Shamsdin and Isutcha, an elevated valley
south of Gavvar, just inside the Turkish frontier. ,
The intermediate stage is Mergavvar (eight hours), and fiom there to
Shamsdin is nine hours, making a total from Urmia of 17 or 18 hours
The paths are rough and stony, but fairly easy for mules the country berng
something similar to that between Drza and Uniira m Route XII.
Shamsdin and Nutcha are both port.ons of the same valley, the latter
beino- the southern of the two. Much tobacco is grown there for which the
place has a name. Mergavvar is a broad valley very much hke Baradost, and
like it, partially, deserted, containing only four or five villages.
The road thither is much infested by robbers and is unsafe for caravans.
There are about 20 villages in Shamsdin, and among them is the residence
of Mar Khanmshu, the Metropolitan of the Nestonan Christians. There are
only a few Christian villages in Shamsdin or Isutcha now.