"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" [و‎‎٦‎٠] (٣١٢/١٢٤)

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Nucheivan -^Eastward is a high snow-covered range, called the Nu-
chewan Dagh which connects this with the principal mass of the Kandil Dao>h.
i ie andil Dagh summits are about 12,000 feet and the Nuchewan 10,000
teet above sea level. 1
A few patches of snow lie about here still and the young grass is -just ap-
peaung. ne camp of nomads had arrived, and were grazing their sheep hio>h
up the mountain side. o » re,
In the winter snow lies 3 to 4 feet deep at the summit of the pass, and
the route is closed for three months—January to March. Probably, if more
used by caravans, it could be kept open all the year round.
, r°ui the head of the pass we started north-west down a narrow valley,
bordered by stony ridges rising 1,000 to 1,500 feet on either side. A small
stream gradually increasing in size, keeps down the centre. Tulips, asphodel,
rndfn \ i alk w 1 leS -’ rhubar ^ &c -> grow in profusion, and the soil is a
ch b ack loam between the stones. A few stunted pear trees were noticed
near the summit; but the trees increase in size, and low oaks and hawthorn
appear as we descend.
^ eWon r ^-At 15 miles halted on a small open spot by the stream
<5,100 ) surrounded by thick brushwood and trees. This is the Nalkewan
valley. Mo village near for some distance. Weather misty and cloudy in the
morning, with a few showers : temperature 67° at noon. The road from the
top of the pass is very stony, over loose jagged pieces of rock. Every shoe
soon disappeared from the animaTs feet.
2 2 nd May General direction, N.W. Left camp, and followed path
down the valley, l eather cloudy and overcast, with a few light showers at
staiting. The path led through a thicket of low trees and shrubs and the
overhanging b ranches caught the mule loads as they passed. Pear trees and
hawthorn in blossom now.
I he valley is about i mile wide, bordered on either side with steep wooded
crags. J
Rising beyond these are rounded stony ridges, thickly covered with snow
at the summits Several rocky glens were passed, down which streams from
the snows flowed. In one was the marks of an avalanche which had swept a
dear track through the forest, about 300 yards wide, cutting trees close off by
the roots, and bringing down huge boulders aud stones. Plenty of firewood
dead trees, and branches seen lying about. No one was met, and the country
seemed quite deserted. The gradient is easy, but track rough and stony.
At miles the stream we have been following makes a bend to the
north-west, entering a narrow gorge choked with a thick forest of oaks
and undergrowth, and down which no track seems to lead. It is bordered
by high cliffs rising 500 to 600 feet on either side. Our track ascends in a
westerly direction over a low col, and enters the head of another long valley
running down to Rawanduz. At 4 miles we reached summit (elevation 5 210 ')
from which a splendid view is obtainable in the Rawanduz direction, the
horizon bounded by the snow peaks of the Hakkiari mountains.
. To tlie ri g‘ ht and left the view is shut in by steep rocky ridges, topped
with a few patches of snow—the Garak Dagh on the left, and the Beni
Hindawm on the right. The head of the valley is from 100 to 200 yards wide
and for 3| miles down the valley the track is very rough and bad.
. It lies through oak forest and thick shrub undergrowth—a narrow path just
wide enough for the mule loads. Rough pieces of limestone, honeycombed and
jagged at the edges, project here and there, and the ground is strewn with
loose stones. The descent is an easy gradient, and by clearing the stones and