"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" [ظ‎‎١‎٢‎٤] (٣١٢/٢٥٣)

194
lu the centre was the rock citadel overlooking the town ensconced in a wide stretch of gardens-
to the north-west, beyond the lake, the lofty peak of the Sipan Dagh. '
To the eastward was the Varak Dagh, and to the west was the blue sheet of the lake reaching
almost to the houses of the town. 6
At tuo o’clock we entered the outer gardens of Van, and on entering the town we staved at
the Mission House of the Dominican fathers. J
Route No. XII.—Bashkala to Urmia via Gavvar.
14 .th to 18th July.
Stages.
Hours
marching.
Distance
IN MILES.
Rate per
diem,
miles per
hour.
Interme
diate.
Total.
Sarderan
• ••
6-25
23
23
3-67
Diza
...
• ••
• • •
...
9-00
31-5
545
3-50
Gangachin
...
• ••
• ••
9-25
35'5
90
3-85
Hassar
...
...
...
• ••
5-50
21
111
364
Urmia
...
...
...
...
4*70
14
125
3‘00
This route, which we took to Urmia, is one main route used by caravans ;
another route, also used, is through the Salmas plain.
14th July. Left Bashkala, and followed a broad gravelly track south-west
across the plain.
The road follows the telegraph line of two wires—one for the line to
ihza, and the other for Julamerk; these separate at Karmi in the Zab valley,
when the Diza line strikes direct across the hills.
At 6 miles we crossed a ravine 3 to 400 yards broad and sunk 50 to 80 feet
below the plain level, in which flows a large stream from the Barajul Dagh.
Reached at 0 miles a flat cultivated terrace (OjOOO') alongside the valley
of the Zab. The river valley itself is about one mile broad, running up 27°
fiom here; the river winds from side to side of it, and some rich grass grows
by the banks. The country generally is absolutely treeless. The actual river
valley is bordered by low earth cliffs, which merge into the Bashkala plain
on one side and the Mur Dagh on the other.
Ploughing is done in deep furrows, as in England, by a large wooden
p ough drawn by 6 or 8 oxen. Several loads of firewood, wattles, and
pop Li i trunks were met on iheir way into Bashkala. The larger poplar logs
aie diawn by a pair of oxen—one end of the trunk tied on the yoke, and the
o rer trailing along the ground. The firewood has to come two days* iourney
from the Zab valley near Karmi.
it ^^ l ^ ava ' ^ Hf miles we crossed another ravine near the village of
Kattibava, on a large stream from the hills flowing towards the Zab.
i • \ e 18 ^ ]ere known as the Albaki Su, because it rises in the Albak
district some 40 miles to the north of this.
4 .u | )a . n k a plain gradually rising to the higher ridge of
the Mur Dagh behind. Hanjoulis, Kelago, Autess, and Argi are small Nes-
tonan villages on the lower slopes of this range.
i ne road gradually descends into the river valley, passing some sulphur
ous springs, from which the pure mineral is collected by the Kurds for making
powder, It is found deposited on the stones beside the springs.