"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" [ظ‎‎٣‎٦] (٣١٢/٧٧)

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boulders overhanging which were perpendicular cliffs. The north-west end of
the Gatcha Kuh ends abruptly in an enormous precipice.
Cheni Gutchan .—At the foot of the pass at 16| miles is the Cheni
Gutchan, a spring from which a large stream flowed.
The road here bifurcated, one track following the contour of the basin,
and winding through a gap in the cliffs at the summit. It is a slightly
shorter route to Dehbala, but far more difficult than the path we took.
Dalowa Pass .—From the top of the pass at 244 miles (7,800') a very
extensive view was obtained. To the north-west the whole of the Zarna valley
(Route I) could be seen. Several Kurdish Iliats were now camped there,
and irrigated crops were planted along the banks of the Gunjir. A steep track
led down a narrow valley to the north-west from here into the head of the
Iwan and Zarna plain. To the south Dehbala valley could be seen at our feet,
spread out like a map. The descent was extremely steep and rugged, down
a rocky wooded hillside.
The total descent is 2,830', which we did in two hours. The horizontal
distance is not more than three miles.
The path is a series of steep short zigzags, winding among trees and boul
ders, with a sudden drop here and there of 3' and 4'. The ascent must be very
tedious. . The rock is a bluish grey limestone. Several caravans of mules were
met. This seems to be the only road to Dehbala. The country to the south
west is very wild and mountainous.
Hassan Ghuli Khan’s vakil, with 50 horsemen, came out to meet us at the
foot of the pass as escort the remainder of the way into Dehbala. At 30
miles from Chardowarthe Wall’s house was reached (4,965').
Hassan Ghuli Khan’s house is the only stone building, his retainers being
camped around in booths and tents, numbering 2,500 in all.
Near the house is a garden 500 yards long by 250 broad enclosed with a
masonry wall 4' thick and 15' high, with corner flanking towers. It is well
laid out with tanks and fountains down the centre, and rows of poplar and
willow trees.
Vineyards, groves of peaches, apricots and vegetables grow on either side
with some fine walnut trees. At the north side stands the Wali’s principal
residence, a square fortified building, built of brick and stone, of 50 yards
side.
The outer walls are 30' high, 3' thick at the base, and have a small circular
tower at each corner.
In the centre is a courtyard with a tank. Several suites of rooms open on
to this court. Along the wall on the flat roof is a double tier of loopholes.
The arrangement of these is peculiar, being simply slits with no splay at all,
the upper tier cut at right angles to the wall, and meant for direct fire; the
lower cut alternately, slanting in different directions, and meant for oblique
fire.
There are rooms with minor courtyards in the interior, and a diwankhana,
or large visitor’s room, facing the gateway. The rooms are decorated in the
usual Persian style with small pieces of looking-glass and pictures let into the
plaster at intervals.
They are furnished with European tables, chairs, &c., and the luxury of
the interior is a marked contrast to the poverty and wretched booths of his
retainers outside.
The water-supply is particularly good, a large spring from the foot of the
hill being led through the house, and the water bubbles up clear and icy cold
into the tanks. There is a Turkish bath outside the north wall of the building