"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" [و‎‎٢‎٩] (٣١٢/٦٢)

43
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ChemisnnJc Plain .—At Ilf miles we bft the Gunjir valley and turned
north through an easy hut narrow pass (2,200'), which opened into the plain
of Chemisuruk. The Gunjir valley continues on a bearing of 128°, the
ridges bordering it close in, and are covered with low shrubs and trees.
The river rises in Iwan plain at the foot of Manisht Kuh, and reaches the
Tam Sambak valley through a succession of narrow gorges known as • the
Tang-i-Iwan. A footpath is said to lead to Iwan and Zarna up the valley,
but no practicable path for mules.
We halted and pitched our camp in the centre of the Chemisuruk valley
alongside a small stream (2,225'). No Iliats had yet arrived^ and not a human
being was seen anywhere. This valley slopes south, and is 8 miles long and
<3 to 4 broad, joined by several side valleys. The camp was 2,225' above sea
level. Most of the soil is a fertile clay, with here and there large patches of
grey shale in rounded hillocks. These grew no vegetation whatever but
contained numerous small nodules, which lay scattered on the surface and proved
to be iron pyrites.
Gilan Kuh .— From 346° to 10° extends the Gilan Kuh, a steep rugged im
passable ridge about 5,000' above sea level, which separates this plain from
that of Gilan. It runs generally N.W. and S.E, A rough track used by
nomads crosses through a rocky gorge and affords access to the Gilan valley',
and from thence to Sir-i-Pul.
To the east of the valley are several wooded ranges running parallel
to the Gunjir in the direction of Zarna.
The ridge immediately to the east of the valley is called the Bagh Kuh
from the number of wild fig trees dotted about its slopes.
The rock is a soft white limestone with horizontal strata, and the action of
the weather has formed the hillsides into a series of a rocky terraces like stairs.
To the west are several long valleys growing abundance of good grass.
To the south-east of the Gilan Kuh is a continuation, called the Zarna Kuh,
of about the same elevation.
The ridges to the north-west seem to fall away and get more rounded and
undulating, and the country seems easy in the direction of Khanikin.
27tli April—General direction, N.E. and S.E. Left camp, and gradually
ascended towards the north-east corner of the plain, wbere we crossed the rido-e
by the Tang-i-Kushk, is a gap \ mile wide at the junction of the Zarna Kuh and
the Bagh Kuh ; bordered a series of scarped cliffs terraced one above the other.
The top of the pass is 4,100', or 1,875' above Chemisuruk.
The track is rough and stony, but could be improved in a short time into
a good road, as the gradients are easy. The steepest portion is a stony clay
slope at the summit of the col.
From the top the road winds diagonally down the hill slope to the north
west. It is a rough path among low trees and scattered boulders, and over
looks a deep narrow valley to the right flowing towards the Gunjir.
On reaching the foot of th6 slope, we had to pass a narrow rift in the
hills also known as the Tang-i-Kushk (3,550').
The gorge is 300 yards long, and for a short distance is 30 yards wide
borderd by steep cliffs. The road wunds between large boulders, strewn with
loose stones, but with some clearing could be made into a good cart road.
The bed of a dry torrent leads through the pass. At the northern mouth of the
pass the track bifurcates, one running to Gilan valley to the north-west
distant 12 miles or one short stage.
Our track turns south-east up the Miandar valley 1 mile wide growing
good grass, and dotted with fine trees like an English park. To the north
. g 2