"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" [ظ‎‎٣‎٢] (٣١٢/٦٩)

50
$
i
ensure supplies' being readily brought. The people are Kalhur Kurds.
Water supply is from several large springs at the foot of the ridges. Rock
is a grey limestone with nearly vertical strata. The ridges gradually become
more rocky and of a less rounded appearance than near Karmanshah.
Pelangir .—At 24- miles halted in Pelangir (4-,725'), a village of 50 huts
with a small orchard, at the end of a low stony spur running up 110 °.
This is a good mule-breeding district. The headman of the village owned
a drove of 40 fine mules. At the opposite side of the valley lies another
village called Maidassar, at the termination of a long rocky ridge. To the
west lies a fine valley, 4 to 5 miles broad, running up north-north-west for
some 30 miles. It is bounded by steep rocky ridges, and joins the Pelangir
valley, lower down. A large stream, the Ab-i-Karind from Harunabad, flows
down it known here as the Ab-i-Chenara. Numerous herds of sheep and
cattle were grazing on the withered grass on the hillsides.
Weather sultry and oppressive, with strong westerly wind. Mornings
cool.
Temperature 55° at 4 a.m., and 98° at noon.
22 nd August.—On leaving Pelangir, the road crosses two low spurs
from the stony range to the east, and at 6 miles enters the valley of
Harassan (4,600"), in which is a large village of that name. Crops of Indian-
corn, wheat, melons, and fruits in a large orchard surround the village, watered
from a large spring close by. There is a square fort with mud walls in a bad
state of repair in the village. This marks the limit of Hassan Agha’s pro
perty, and also of the settled section of Kalhur Kurds. In the hilly region to
the south-east are the Akhur Lurs. The distinction between Kurds and Lurs
is not well marked. They are both a different type from the Kurd farther
north and are much darker with more Jewish features. They wear the
Persian dress, the Kula-i-numdah and long coat, and have no distinctive dress
like the true Kurds. In religion they are nominally Shias but really have a
religion much resembling the Ali Allahi sect or Kizilbashs. The tribes of
Kurdistan proper are Sunnis.
At 3-30 a.m., the temperature was 69°, and on reaching the top of a small
spur an hour later, a sudden chill brought it down to 56°.
After the Harassan valley, a low rounded ridge was crossed. The Ab-i-
Chenara lies 1 mile to the west, coming from the direction of Karind and
Harunabad, passing through a rich district in its course. It receives numerous
small tributary streams, and the country is well watered.
Ramazada Ziarat .—At 7 ^ miles the river passes through a fine gorge
with steep perpendicular sides. On these cliffs is the Hamazada Ziarat, a group
of three conical-shaped tombs—one on the crest and two in the valley—sur
rounded by a thick grove of oaks. The branches of these trees are never cut
or lopped; and consequently they were the only trees in the landscape. Th^
branches are hung with coloured rags and bits of clothing, which each travel
ler on passing by hangs up.
Vardalan Range .—These ridges form the commencement of the Vardalan
Range, a series of high parallel ranges running north-west and south-east.
The rock is hard grey limestone; the strata are well marked, and occasionally
stand out perfectly vertical.
Although stony, the soil is rich, with some fine trees, 30" to 50" high and
8 to 4 diameter, usually in the most inaccessible places. Most have been
used for firewood.
The principal trees are balud oaks, pistachio, hawthorn, and numerous
shrubs and undergrowth.