'Report on Kurdistan' [‎80v] (165/220)

148
KAR-KAR
KARAJIAN— Elev. 5,280'.
Is situated in the valley of the same name 4 miles north of Ruvansar. Here
diverge roads to Kirmanshah vid Ruvansar, to Javanrud and to Kamiaran. The
Karajian valley is here a mile broad ; the mountains steep and grassy, but bare
of trees. The valley itself contains much grass. A few patches of cultivation
lie round the village. There is no water when the snow has melted off the
surrounding hills, and the village is deserted during the summer by the inhabi
tants, who leave for the Zarna mountain with their flocks and herds.— (Burton.)
KARAJIAN (pass and valley)—Elev. 6,340'.
Is traversed by the Senna-Javanrud road between the village of Lun and the
Gashen pass. The descent into the valley from the direction of Lun is steep and
dangerous for laden animals for a short distance, but the remainder of the valley
is traversed by good and level tracks. The length of the valley to Ruvansar
is about 9 miles. As far down as Karajian it is a mile only in width, gradually
expanding as it nears Ruvansar. In this portion it is flanked on either hand by
rocky and splintered cliffs of the Shahu and Zarna mountains. Grass is abundant
throughout, but there is no water after the melting of the snow. At Karajian
the Javanrud road diverges to cross the Shahu range by the Gashen pass to the
west, which it does by a steep and difficult track to Khani-Khadran on the Halab-
jeh-Kirmanshah road, the road continuing to Ruvansar; here also from
the east side joins road from Kamiaran.—(R^rtoM.)
KARAVUL—
A village to the left of the Senna-Sakiz road at 2 farsaJchs from Senna.—
(Customs.)
KARASU—
A river in south-west Persia which rises in Kurdistan ; its principal stream ori
ginates at Ruvansar, where numerous springs pour out a considerable volume
of clear water from some rocky hills on the porth-west border of the village.
Two other small tributaries join it east and north-west of the same village on the
fertile plain of Shahabad, 30 miles north-west of Kirmanshah city ; it receives
additional water from numerous tributaries ; a little lower down it is joined by the
Ab-i-Merek, which, rising in the Luristan hills, flows through the Mahidasht plain.
A few miles further down it is joined by various streams from a place called Sarab-
Nilufar, al out 5 miles w^est of its right bank. The river at this early part of its
course flov s at a considerable distance below the level of the surrounding country,
at least 10 and often from 15 to 20 feet below it. In consequence of this its
waters are not used for irrigation purposes below Uramuvar (Urumabad) about
8 miles from its source. The country through which it passes is exceedingly
* fertile, while the banks of the river are lined, in many places for several miles
together, with willow trees and bushes. Ten miles north-west of Kirmanshah
city the Rizavar-rud, from the Bilavar valley, coming down rid Kaklistan, joins
it. Its waters are now more or less discoloured. There appears to be no reason
why its waters should not be utilized lor irrigation, at any rate as far as
’ Kirmanshali ; the probable explanation is the disinclination of the Persian to
expend money in masonry dams, and his incapacity to construct them, and
also owing to a legend which declares that the river cannot be used for
' irrigation purposes. It is joined at a spob about 15 miles south-east of
Kirmanshah by the Gamasiab. The united rivers then flow south-west,
through Cham-Nuzeh, Gudapur, Tang-i-Tir, and Huleilan to Seimerreh, when
they join and help to make the main stream of the Karkhah.— (Plowden ;
Vaughu.i.) .