"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" [و‎‎٤‎٨] (٣١٢/١٠٠)

There is a good stone serai on the north side outside the town. A Kaim-
makam lives here, and just now 500 Regulars were encamped on the plain to
the south. They had 300 very fine mules, some of them nearly 15 hands,
which they used for riding, and formed a sort of mounted infantry for the
protection of the post road. There were some 50 zaptiyahs as well. The
road is much infested by Hamawands and various other robbers.
The inhabitants of Kifri are mostly Kurds, but include a few Arabs and
Jews. r lhe Kurdish white felt coat with long sleeves was generally worn with
the Persian conical felt cap “ Kulah namdab” and blue trousers.
Overlooking the town from the north is a steep ridge of sandstone and
gypsum 300 to 400 feet high running 298° and 130°, merging to the south
east in the Jebel Khushka, and skirting the plain for some distance to the
north-west.
On the 10th the weather was clear with a few clouds. Temperature
noon 84 j . In the afternoon it clouded over and rained heavily till midnight,
with a strong wind from the north-west. Temperature 65° at 6 p.m.
Between Kasr-i-Shirin and Kifri, by the route we followed, there are no
obstacles for the passage of troops except the Diala River, which would have
to be bridged at this time of year. With pontoons or trestle work this could
easily be done. r lhe remainder of this route to Mosul follows the post road
from Kifri, and has been several times described by travellers. The stages
are—
Tuz Khurmatu
Taouk
Kirkuk
Altun Keupri
Erbil
Kulak
Mosul
.. 24 miles.
.. 21
.. 25
.. 27
99
.. 30 „
.. 33 „
Total ... 182 „ Kifri to Mosul.
The total distance from Kermanshah to Mosul by this route is 316 miles*
Through Sulaimaniah and Koi Sanjal?it is also 346 miles, but the road is con
siderably rougher, and there are several difficult points for guns {see Colonel
Bell’s Turkey in Asia) ; so distances being equal, the former is far the best
to take.
The road from Kifri to Mosul has been several times traversed by Turkish
troops and guns.
Route No. VI—Baghdad to Sulaimaniah via Kifri and the
Zagirma Pass.
This route follows an almost direct line joining the two places.
Prom Baghdad as far as Kifri the Mosul post road is followed and is well
known, but from Kifri to Sulaimaniah the road is hardly ever used, owing
to its passing through the country of the Hamawand Kurds, whose raiding
parties keep the whole country in a state of terror. It is an old trade route, and
presents few natural difficulties.
The route to Sulaimaniah at present used by caravans lies through Kirkuk.