"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" [و‎‎١‎١‎٤] (٣١٢/٢٣٢)

At H miles entered a stream bed 150 to 200 yards wide, bordered by steep
shale slopes, and crossed a stream 30 feet wide and 1 foot deep (3, 7 ).
Some miles down the valley to the south-east is a hill with steep f-ides shape
like a truncated cone, with some steep precipices quite 2,000 leet high m the
gorge to the south of it. The streams we have crossed unite and form the
Hazil river, which flows round the western front of this.
Our track follows the bank, crossing and recrossing the stream. In flood
time the whole of the valley is filled from bank to bank. The stream rises in
a'thiekly wooded hill with a rounded summit 4 miles to the north.
At 7 miles left the valley, and climbed up a spur nearly bare, with only a few
scattered shrubs. < .
At 8 miles reached the summit of the ridge (4,645 ), and kept along a path
with deep valleys on either side, following a contour for a short distance, and
then a gradual descent, through a fairly wooded country, into the deep valley
of another stream in front of us. . /o c<w\
At 12 miles crossed a stream 40 feet wide and 18 inches deep (3,800 )
in a stony bed with scattered boulders 200 to 300 yards wide. This also
runs down 165° round the base of the flat-topped hill mentioned above.
Followed the river bank up stream, through some thick groves of oaks and
sycamores, and at 14| miles climbed another steep shaly ridge (4,680'),
dividing this from another stream valley (4,060 ). _
The whole stage was a constant ascent and descent of these ridges divid
ing these small streams..
There were a few patches of good grass, but the greater part was withered.
From here the eastern end of the Halakur Dagh bore 317°. It was found to
be 5,175 feet above this or 9,240 feet above sea level. ^
We ascended a broad well worn track used by the “Kochers” in their,
annual migrations along a narrow spur (5,150 ). Several groves of good oaks
were dotted about the bare shale slopes. From the summit of the ridge is an
easv descent, and at 18^ miles reach valley of stream (4,175 ) also flowing
south. Close by is the junction of a small tributary, which we follow in the
direction 110 °. 7
Buslasar .—At 20 miles halted in a small open patch (4,530 ) about 3 mile
square, surrounded by trees, called Bustasar. A little green grass was to be
found for the mules. # .
Along the latter part of this stage the road is a well used track, and is the
main communication between Shernakh and the high mountain ranges to the
east of it. This does not prove that it is an easy road, as the nomads climb
up and down any slope, however steep, so long as they eventually reach good
pasture. Some of the gradients are steep, but zigzags to improve them could
be cut in this soft shaly soil. No villages were seen today, and a small
caravan of donkeys were the only people we saw.
Weather cool and pleasant today. Temperature 70° at 5-15 p.m. and
43° at 5 a.m. Mornings cold.
6 th July—General direction E. Re-started up the valley, following the
left bank of the stream.
Several side valleys, most of them thickly wooded, strike out on either side,
and the valley gradually narrows as we ascend; while at 3 miles it bifurcates,
ajid our track follows the south-east branch. r Ihe hillsides are thickly wooded
with oaks and juniper, and a few patches of long green grass commence to
appear.
Awralh Bagl .—After 4 miles reached the head of the spur (5,180')
dividing the two branches of the valley. From here, bearing 350° and 11 miles
2 a
VOL. I.