‘Gazetteer of Kermanshah.’ [‎116r] (236/504)

south of that place, it is joined by the third or chief branch of the Karfehah
which comes from the Guran mountains by a north-west course of about
40 miles.
. trunk of the three united streams, under the name of the Gamasiab
river (of which the second above-mentioned may, from its northern and
central position, be considered as the main branch), winds nearly for 80
miles along-the Guran mountains. At this celebrated spot, Bisutun,
the Gamasiab receives the Ab-i-Dinavar coming from the north, and again*
after a couise of about miles nearly soutb-west, another stream called
theKarasu, passes through Kermanshah at about 20 miles north-uorth-
west of that place. r lhe direction of the main trunk is nearly south, until
it receives, at a few miles from thence, a tributary coming from the Guran
mountains by a westerly course, and passing by the tomb of Baba Buzurg.
Below this junction, under the name of Karasu,it runs south by west for
nearly 60 miles, traversing the Kuhi Turdulan and plain of Tihran, in the
district of Pish Kuh ; and, finally, through the great chain of the Zagros
to the ruins of Sliahri Budbar, which are situated at its confluence with
the river of Kerind. This is a very considerable stream, which rises close
to the gates of Zagros, and has a tortuous course of nearly 100 miles in a
general south-east direction. In the latter part of its course it forces its
way through the Zagros, by a tremendous gorge,into the plain of Zangavan,
being then at a distance of about 12 miles east of the ruins of Shirvan.
From thence it takes the name of Ab-i-Shirvan, as it passes in a south-
south-east direction through the valley of Rudbar, being increased almost at
the junction by the Zangawan, the Ab-i-Shirwan, and two other streams,
all of which come from the west.
The united waters of Karasu and Ab-i-Shirwan, now called the Kark-
hah, follow the Zagros in a south-south-east direction for about 80 miles,
through the plains of Lurfc aud Saimarah, and one mile above the bridge.
The Karkbah is joined on the north-east side by the Kashghan, a large
stream which rises in two branches on the Kuh-i-Chehel Nabalighan, at
some distance beyond Khorremabad, in the plain of Kuhdasht, and, after
being joined by the united streams of Khorremabad, Kayun, and Tayin,
the main trunk runs south-westward, through the plain of Jadar and over
a number of precipices, forming a succession of magnificent cataracts, as
it struggles through the outer rampart of the Zagros into the valley of
the Karkhah, some thousand feet below the hills. At about 221 miles
south-east of the bridge of Gamashan, the Karkhah receives the Ab-i-
Garm, a smaller stream coming from the north ; and at about 38J miles
south-east from thence is Pul-i-Tang, a very remarkable bridge over a
chasm, which is here 150 feet deep, and so narrow that a Kurd actually
leaped across it, in the presence of Major Rawlinson. Having overcome
this obstacle, the river resumes its ordinary size ; and 8 miles lower it is
joined by the Ab-i-Zal, which enters it, after a course of about 50 miles
from its source, in the fastnesses of the Kal-i-Aspid and Anarahrud. The
Karkhah leaves the mountains west of Dizful, within 10 miles of that
river. At this spot it is a rapid mountain stream, aud at its entrance into
the plain, it was formerly crossed by a bridge, the remains of which are Pol
Pai. Immediately below this bridge the river is fordable during summer ;
this ford being generally used by horsemen. It is, however, difficult owing
to the rapidity of the current.