'Military Report on (S.-W.) Persia, Volume V. Luristan' [‎9v] (23/152)

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Beyond it lies the Dallch range whose precipitous crest runs al
most unbroken from the Kashgan eastwards, till it loses itself in the
massive xolds of Rid Kuh or Kus. Beyond the Dalich lie tier upon
tier of rolling limestone hills, rising 2,000 / or so from the valleys, till
at last the edge of the Kuh-i-BawwI plateau is reached, and the broad
flat plain of Kurageh, or Dasht-i-Azneh lies at one’s feet, and beyond
it, surrounded by mountains, Khuxramabad, the capital of the
province, surrounded by orchards and gardens, a veritable oasis in
a country of destructive nomads.
mvers.
The Saidmarreh river is second only to the Kariin amongst the
rivers of Peisia, and the area drained by it is probably larger than
that of the Karim. It rises in three branches, all springing consi
derably east of Kirmanshah, the first, and smallest, 25 miles west of
Hamadan; the second has three springs on the slopes of Kuh-i-
Alwand, 6 or 8 miles south of that town. The latter runs south
west till it meets the former in the plain of Maran about 10 miles
south-west of Kangawar, and at a spot nearlylO miles south of that
place it is joined by the third and chief branch, coming from the
(xQran hills by a north-west course of about 40 miles.
x i • Irii^-k of the three united streams, under the name of the
Ab-i-Gramasiab (of which the second above mentioned may, from
its northern and central position, be considered as the main branch)
winds nearly for 30 miles along the Guran mountains. At this
celebrated spot, i.e., Bistun, the Gamaslab receives the Ab-i-Dinavar
coming from the north, and again, after a course of about 12 miles
nearly south-west, another stream called the Qarasu, (passing through
t le Kirmanshah plain) at about 20 miles north-north-west of that
place. The direction of the main trunk is nearly south, until it
receives, at a few miles from thence, a tributary coming from the Gur-
ran mountains by a westerly course, and passing by the tomb of Baba
Buzurg. Below this junction under the name of Qarasu, it runs
south by west for nearly 60 miles, traversing the Kuh Turdulan and
the district of Pish-i-Kuh; and, finally, through the great chain of the
Zagros to the rums of Shahr-i-Rudbar, which are situated at its con-
uence with the river of Kannd. This is a very considerable stream
which rises close to the gates of Zagros, and has a tortuous course
ot nearly 100 miles m a general south-east direction. In the latter
prt of its course it forces its way through the Zagros, by a tremendous
mpassable gorge, into the plain of Zangawan, being then at a dis
tance of about 12 miles east of the ruins of Shirwan From thence
it takes the name of Ab-i-Shuwan, as it passes in a south-south-east
direction through the valley of Rudbar, being increased almost at
the junction by the Zangawan, the Ab-i-Shirwan, and two other
streams, all_of which come from the west (vide “ Birin] an gorge ”)