'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' [‎146r] (296/312)

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(6,510'), and commenced a gradual descent by a small stream valley until, at
26i miles, the large village of Kamiran is reached, where we halted (5,195').
The village stands on the edge of a level plain trending south-east for some
20 miles, bounded by steep rocky ranges, and north-west into a circular
basin some 5 miles diameter.
A few patches of cultivation were seen, but only a fraction of the cultur-
able soil is utilized. Six small villages could bo counted on the plain.
Noon temperature 93°, 4 a.m. 61°.
13th August—-General direction, S. Left Kamiran, and struck across
the plain, going south. At 7 miles enter a gap | mile wide in the hills called
the Tang-i-Kalashakani (4,815').
Through it flows the Rahzabar stream, rising in the south-east end of the
Kamiran plain, and joining the Kara Su north of Karmanshah.
The stream is nearly dry now, but in spring is difficult to ford, the bed
being full of quicksands. The road is a broad level one, and at 10 miles it
turns sharp round the west end of the ridge marking the southern limit of
the pass. This ridge has a rough jagged summit, with scarcely any vegetation,
and rises 3,000 to 4,000 feet nearly vertically above us.
To the south is a plain 2 to 3 miles wide, forming a continuation of the
Karmanshah plain. It is only partially cultivated, although the soil is very
fertile. Our road skirts the north side of it, and another track, equally good,
keeps to the south.
The villages are small clusters of wretched mud huts, and at this season
the villagers leave the houses for booths of branches erected close by.
Kala Yawan. —At 14g miles pass Kala Yawan, a small village with a
ruined fort on a knoll close by a large spring coming out of the base of the hills.
From the village our road strikes south-east across the plain, and at N 2
miles again reach the Rahzabar stream, which has skirted the south side of
the plain. „ , , „ . ,
Kaklassan. —At 234 miles, after following the left bank, forded the stream
Kaklassan, and halted there (4,720'). _ oe -i i
Bearing 2H6° runs a grassy valley, 3 to 4 miles wide, some ~5 miles long.
Bearing 308° is a rocky peak of a rounded ridge called the Kuh-i-Khurrin,
rising some 3,000 feet out of the plain (7,700 above sea le\el).^
From 50 v to 108° extends the highest portion of the Kuh-i-Baluch. Itie
summit is a long serrated ridge composed of enormous pinnacles of bare
rock terraced one above the other. . ,
Fires for burning the gum tragacanth were dotted all about its slopes.
Bearing 120°, and some 25 miles distant is a rocky peak covered with snow
called the Kuh-i-Paru. This overlooks Bisitun on the Karmaushah-Hamadan
'^Bearing 1341° is the extremity of a rocky ridge jutting out into the
plain north of Karmanshah, a continuation of the Kuh-i-Paiu.
Bearing 260°, and 7 miles distant, is a small tomb called the Imam-i-
Wais-i-Nasar on a line of low rounded hills. It forms a very good landmaik
The weather was sultry and oppressive at midday, the temperature be 0
97° and at 2 f.m. 101°, with a hot dusty wind.
After midnight it became cool, and at 3-30 a.m. the temperature was only
14th August—General direction, S.E. Left Kaklassan, and continued
along a broad, well defined track going south-south-east. _ , -i
At 3^ miles pass close under the south-east end of an isolated rocky 11 g ,
miles long, which rises abruptly out of the plain.
2 h 2