"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" [ظ‎‎١‎٢‎١] (٣١٢/٢٤٧)

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At 1H miles we came to the foot of the descent (7,130'), and crossed a
stream in a narrow valley flowing- west. There was a small g-rove of poplars
and two mills by the stream.
A snow peak of the Arabi Dag-h bore 145° from here. This is in the
range which forms the watershed of the Zab and the Bohtan Su.
The ascent was steep for the first half mile out of the valley, and then wound
round the base of a spur from a high range to the north-east called the Nish-
khava Dagh.
Shahmannns .—At 13| miles a wide valley lies to the left in which is Shah-
mannus, a large Nestorian village. The remains of an stone fort in ruins stand
on a knoll close by. This is all the Nurduz district.
Level terraces, well irrigated and cultivated, extend 3 to 4 miles on either
side of the village.
Our road keeps along an upper contour of the hill, while another easier
path leads round a lower level direct to Shahmannus.
K/inrkhurrut .— At 17 miles we crossed a small spur, and turned aside from
the road into a camp of 50 tents of Hartoshi Kurds called Khurkhurrut
(8,275'). ■
The Shaikh claimed relationship with Muhammad Agha of Shernakh, whose
influence extends over all these tribes up to the neighbourhood of Bashkala.
In winter these Hartoshi do not go to the plains, but crowd into Shah
mannus and the neighbouring Christian villages.
They have to pay a yearly tax of 1 para per sheep to the Kaimmakam at
Merwanen. There are very few Kurdish villages in this district.
The Nestorians cultivate the district round Shahmannus with o-reat care.
Millet, rice, hemp, and sesame are chielly grown. They show great ingenuity
in winding irrigation channels round rocky spurs on the hillside, and'’utilize
the water to its fullest extent.
This small stream joins the larger one which passes Shahmannus. Short
grass of an extraordinarily brilliant green grew by the stream banks, while
a longer variety, which animals eat greedily, grew in large tufts on the
hillsides. Several mules and horses belong to these Kurds. A large number
of transport animals cogid be collected from these nomads in case of necessity
The soil is a shaly clay with portions of igneous trachyte projecting here
and there. The rock formations were very varied, blue limestone and cono-lo-
merate being also noticed. &
Two crops of wheat and millet are gathered in these elevated districts.
Ploughing is done very deep, the plough having a wooden board, shaped
like in England, resting on two wooden wheels in front, and is usually drawn
by a team of six bullocks. It turns up about 1 foot of earth. It is a very
clumsy looking arrangement. J
12th July—General direction E. Left Khurkhurrut camp (8 275')
g ong north for the first two miles, and then east along a broad easy track
rounding the base of a steep peak of the Nishkhava Dagh to the right This
splendid grass country would graze any number of cattle, but is quite
deserted. ^
Akhola. At 4| miles descend into a plateau, about 2 miles wide, of rich soil
called Akhola.
At 6 miles crossed a stream (8,400') which flows in a most peculiar winding
course from a broad grassy valley bordered by low spurs of the Vishkava
Dagh bearing 165 from here.
At 62 miles pass Akhola, a village of Shida Kurds, deserted in summer and
on y inhajiteu in winter. Water-supply very abundant from small springs