'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' [‎141v] (287/312)

226
Route to Banah and Sulaimaniah .—The principal caravan road to Stilai-
maniah is through Banah. It is two stages, the intermediate one being
Miradeh (17 miles), and the total distance is 41 miles.
The first stage is an easy road by the valley of the Sahiz Chai, but the
second, a steep pass, has to be crossed, and the road is hilly and bad.
A caravan was starting to Banah with loads of general goods.
From Banali to Sulaimaniah is a very rough mountainous road, the stages
being—•
(1) Serambal
(2) Panj win
(3) Mama Kulan
(4) Sulaimaniah
Miles.
13
21
27
21
Route No. XVI.—Sakizto Sihna.
Stages.
•
Hours
marching.
Distance
Inter
mediate.
nr miies.
Total.
Rate per diem, in
miles per hour.
Rengrazal ...
4-75
17
17
3-58
Mulanabad ... ...
5-80
19
36
3-28
Shakhala ... ... ...
6-00
21
57
3-50
Kosuma ... ... ...
5*00
16
73
3-20
Sibna ... ...
8-80
32
105
3-63
5th August.— Greneral direction, S.S.E. There are two roads to Sihna,
the principal one, most used by caravans, makes an eastward bend, skirting
the foot of the Chahil Chashmah range.
The other, which we take, is a direct line between the two places, passing
over the eastern spurs of the same range.
The stages by the former route are—
(1) Telaku. I (3) Baklabad.
(2) Divandereh. I ( 4 ) Sihna.
Each stage was given as 6 farsakhs; total 24 farsakhs, or nearly 80 miles.
A\ e left Sakiz (5,080 ), and crossed the Sakiz Chai, ascending a broad
easy track towards the low hills bounding the valley to the south.
At 3| miles reach the top of the ridge (5,830'), and continue along the
neck between two deep narrow valleys ; one to the west draining into the Sakiz
Chai, and another to the east into the Jaghatu Chai.
the road winds along these rounded hills, with deep narrow valleys on
either side for about 8 miles.
These 11
,tor fall h
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Several s
Id some
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j The river
lillsaiidemi
Total ... 82 {Routes in {Persia, No. 408),
making the total distance 123 miles from Sakiz to Sulaimaniah.
The country along the Turkish frontier is mountainous, and practically
impassable for guns. In winter the snow almost entirely closes it from the
middle of December to the middle of March in each year. Caravans and
single horseman manage to get through at all seasons.
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