"استطلاعات في بلاد الرافدين وكردستان وشمال غرب بلاد فارس ولرستان في الفترة من أبريل إلى أكتوبر ١٨٨٨، كتبها المقدم ف. ر. مونسيل، فرع الاستخبارات. يوجد مجلدان. المجلد الأول: تقرير سردي ووصف للمدن الكبرى والطرق المؤدية منها. شيملا: فرع الاستخبارات، إدارة قائد الإمداد والتموين، ١٨٩٠" [و‎‎٢‎٦] (٣١٢/٥٦)

From Kasr-i-Sliirin (1,41 O') the ascent would run along the bank of the
Alwand, pass Sir-i-Pul on the left, and go south-east up the Kalashakin plain
to Kifraour valley.
From Kifraour the bed of a large stream would be followed into Tirao
valley (5,385'). A beaten track, used by nomads in their annual migrations,
follows this stream {see Route I). North-east of Tirao is a rounded ridge
called the Chalabakka Kuh (5,780 ), over which it would be easy to carry a
railway into the Harunabad plain. From Kasr-i-Shirin to the summit
ol the Chalabakka is 4,370 feet in about 55 miles j this might be reduced con
siderably by a short tunnel at the summit of the ridge.
From the Chalabakka Kuh to Harunabad is a descent of 900 feet in about
1 5 miles.
r lhis route should certainly be further explored, as, whether useful for rail
way construction or not, it is an additional line of communication to the Tak-i-
Girra Pass.
Route No. I.—Narrative Account—Baghdad to Karmanshah
via Mendali and Zarna.
20th to 30th April.
Stigbs.
Hours
marching'.
Miles.
Rate per diem,
in miles, per
hour.
Intermediate.
Total.
Khan Beni Said
550
17-50
17-50
318
Bahriz ...
3-G6
] T50
29-00
3-14
Belad Buz
7-25
23-00
52-00
3T7
Mendali ...
9-83
27-00
79-00
2-74
Muarenna
8-25
25-50
104-50
3-09
Chenisuruk
4-83
15-75
120-25
3-26
Zarna
5-75
20-25
.140-50
3-52
Channilia
4-75
13 25
153"75
2-80
Tirao
6'16
12-25
166-00
1-82
Khorassabad
...
3-25
10-50
176-50
3-20
20th. April.— General direction, N.N.E. The most direct route to Medali
crosses the Diala River at Sifri or Tambur, two and a half hours from
Baghdad. From there a path lies direct across the plain to Mendali; but
it is all “chol” or desert, with only an occasional Arab encampment.
It is two stages of nine hours each from Sifri to Mendali, and this route
could only be used in spring when grass and rain water are plentiful.
There isno water in the summer, and the more northern route by Bahriz
and Belad Ruz is then taken.
We left Baghdad at 8-30 a.m. by the Bab-l-Wastani, and struck across the
plain following the line of the telegraph poles.
Numerous caravans, some of camels from the Mosul direction, and others
of mules, donkeys, and strings of pilgrims from Persia. The road is a well