'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' [‎143r] (290/312)

Supplies in small quantities only were procurable, and the inhabitants arc
poor and wretched. Caravans do not as a rule use this road, but take that to
the eastward through Divandereh.
7th August.—General direction, S.S.E. Left the village, crossing some
low spurs from a high-rounded ridge to the eastward, and descended again
into the Khurkhura valley (6,850').
Kuh-i-Chahil Chashmah .—Bearing south, and some 8 miles distant is a lofty
mass of mountains, extending west to the Turkish frontier, called the Kuh-i-
Chahil Chashmah, or “ the Mountain of the Forty Springs/'’ from the number
of springs and streams that take their rise there. The higher peaks are still
streaked with snow.
We follow the river valley, and skirt the east side of the range, from which
several small tributaries join to swell the stream.
The valley is from 50 to 100 yards wide, bounded by steep bare hills. The
road is an easy track, following the right bank, fording the stream several
times.
Takia .—At 11§ miles pass Takia, a small village surrounded by a grove of
poplars and willows.
A short way beyond Takia our road turned aside from the main valley, and
ascended a side valley running south-east.
At 14 miles reach a narrow neck (elevation 7,570'), and commence des
cending another small valley by a 3 feet mule track in a clay slope.
At 16§ miles we reached the foot of the slope, and turned up the Khurkhura
valley again near Tawikalau (7,240').
Shalikala.
At 18 miles our track turns south, leaving the stream, and crosses a
rounded clay spur to Shahkala (21 miles), a small village on a stream,
in a small valley shut in by steep rounded hills (0,865'). Numerous tracks
lead over these hills from one village to another. These villagers are “ Rayah ^
Kurds of the Goran tribe.
The Shaikh of this village was known as an eminently good man, who
allowed no traveller or stranger, however poor, to pass by without entertain
ing him.
They complain a great deal of the depredations of the Jafs, and say they
are unable to store any wheat, and if a famine came, they are certain to suffer
terribly. Last year there was a partial famine owing to the depredations of
a small worm called “ sin,^ which eats the inside of the grain.
Wheat, tobacco, millet, sesame and gram are grown about here. A few
poplars and gardens of melons, cucumbers and vegetables grew by stream
bank. Kermanji and a little Persian are spoken.
The weather clouded over today, and was sultry towards evening. The
temperature perceptibly increases as we travel south, temperature 88 at
noon, and 69° at 6 a.m.
8th August— General direction, S.S E. Left the village, striking south
east, over some low rocky hills, and then south-west, skirting the foot of a
high range with a rocky summit 2 rciile to the south, with open undulating
country 3 miles to the north. A high peak, a part of the Chahil Chashmah
range, bears 275° from here. At 4 miles, after crossing a succession of
clay spurs (7,380') from the ridge to the left, we entered a narrow valley
with a large stream from the Darragawan pass. The path is rough and bad^
ascending steeply among boulders and large loose stones in the stream bed.