'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' [‎140r] (284/312)

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The stage today is very similar to yesterday, being along a valley bounded
by undulating rounded hills, cultivated with wheat, barley, castor oil, and
cotton. Water is from springs in the hillsides or karez; the streams drain
to the eastward into the Tatavi river which flows into Urmia lake. There
are two roads to Sakiz, both equally good, one taking a lower level than this,
and more to the eastward. The upper one is used in summer, and is usually
blocked by snow drifts in winter. The border hills are bare of trees, but
contain good soil, and patches of wheat grew without irrigation some distance
up the slopes.
Akhtatar .—At 3 miles pass the large Kurdish village of Akhtatar, | miles
to the east. At 9 miles we reached the valley of the Tatavi river, and forded
it near the small village of Kasalian (4,620'). The river flows in a gravelly
bed 200 to 300 yards wide, with only a small stream 30 feet wide and 6 inches
deep now with scarcely any current, the rest of the water being led away
into the irrigation cuts.
The river valley is 3 to 4 miles wide and extends some distance to the west,
where the river rises among some steep hills south-east of Lahijan.
The country towards the Lesser Zab valley is a series of steep hills,
enclosing narrow stream valleys.
Bugdabasi .—At 2 miles up stream is Bugdabasi, a village near a mound,
on which is a half ruined mud fort. Down stream the river flows north-east,
bounded by bare rounded hills less steep, however, than those to the west.
Our road continues south-east, and gradually trends away from the Tatavi
valley, following a small stream valley, which gets narrower as we ascend.
Tera .—At 16£ miles, at the head of the valley, pass the large village of
Tera, surrounded by some orchards and groves of poplars by the stream.
At 18| miles reached the head of the valley, and crossed a rounded ridge
at 5,560 feet. There are numerous springs and swampy bits of ground, and the
soil is a rich loam growing luxuriant crops. From the summit open out
the head of another cultivated valley, which grows wider as we descend (1 to 2
miles wide). j. • •u' u
Akhan .'—At 20 miles a large valley joins ours from the north-west, in wJncU
is the large village of Akhan.
At 22 miles the road leaves the valley and trends east undulating
some low rounded spurs, and at 27 miles the town of Sakiz was reac ed
(5 050'). ,,
People were met digging up thistle roots and low shrubs like “ gavvan or
gum tragacanth, and carrying them on donkeys to Sakiz to be used as fire-wood.
The whole route from Suj-Bulak, excepting a short steep bit already
mentioned near there, is a broad clay track, easily practicable for artillery.
There is an abundant water-supply even at this season, and the whole
district, especially the valleys of the Tatavi and Jaghatu rivers to the east,
form a fine granary, yielding wheat, barley, cattle and shetp in consi eia e
quantities for the support of an army.