'Reconnaissances in Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, North-West Persia, and Luristan from April to October 1888. By Lt F R Maunsell, Intelligence Branch. In Two Volumes. Volume I: narrative report, description of larger towns and routes leading from them. Simla: Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General's Dept, 1890' [‎28v] (61/312)

42
Weather today cloudy, with a fresh north-west breeze, and towards evening
a heavy thunderstorm. Temperature 68° at noon.
There is room for a large camp of troops among the low hills bordering
the valley.
26th April —General direction, E.N.E. At 5 a.m. left camp. The track
at first keeps along the left bank, which cuts its way down the centre of the
valley in a deep narrow bed bordered by cliffs of rocky conglomerate 50' to
80' high. Cross several small ravines from the hills to the right.
Another road follows the right bank, but is rougher than this, and the
hills on that side come close to the water’s edge.
Dizgarran Valley .—At 3 miles we passed round the end of a spur which
juts out here and entered a long grassy valley 200 to 300 yards wide,
bordered by rugged spurs from the high ranges on either side and known as
Dizgarran valley (1,8 lb').
On either side of the river bed are flat terraces extending to the foot of the
border hills. The track is an easy one along the left bank over a close sward of
good grass dotted with brilliant flowers. To the south is the Tulwar-i-Khuda
Range, a series of impassable rocky ridges, which run 163°, and parallel to one
another. The culminating ridge of this range is a sharp razor-edge summit
of limestone cliffs, and about 4,000' above sea level.
No one was met during this stage, but the remains of several of last year’s
encampments were seen, and the nomad Kalhur Kurds will be here in about
a fortnight’s time.
Pul-i-Dukhtar-i-Kurd .—At 3| miles we passed by the ruins of an old
bridge, called the Pul-i-Dukhtar-i-Kurd, over the narrow riverbed. If this
were repaired, we could cross here, and avoid some narrow bits higher up.
A track leads north from here to Sir-i-Pul-i-Zohab. It is said to be
rough and difficult, only used by the Kurd Iliats migrating. The hills on
both sides of the valley get more rugged, and are topped with cliffs of grey
limestone.
Zarrat Villey .—At 6 miles we crossed a low undulation and emerged
into the Zarrat valley (1,875'), 5 miles long and i to f miles wide, bordered
by rounded hills covered with fine grass. Several small streams come in
on either bank. I he river keeps on the north side of the valley and flows
in a deep bed bordered by cliffs 60 to 80 feet high. A few shrubs and low
fig trees make their appearance on the hillsides now for the first time, and
the stream banks are lined with oleanders.
The head of the valley is closed by a spur from the end of one of the ridges
of the Tulwar-i-Khuda. A steep cliff abuts into the stream, and our track
leads^ steeply over the spur rejoining the river valley on the other side.
ffhe soil is soft clay and shale, and a cutting could easily be made to avoid
the steep portion. At the bend of the river, on the opposite bank, is the
head of a broad valley running 345° and down which a large stream flows.
Tang-i-Sh u tar gar dan .—At 9§ miles, the head of the valley is closed
ry a ridge through which the river forces its wav by a narrow winding gorge
^ ie 1 ang-i-Shutargardau. The road winds along the edge of the
clrff overlooking the water.
g‘ or g' e is I mile long and from 30 to 40 yards wide, bordered by
chffs loO feet high. The remains of an old bridge exist here, and also of a
custom house. I his shows that this was once a trade route fallen into disuse
owing to the lawless and unsettled state of the country. From the gorge we
pass the river valley diagonally and ford the stream in the centre of it. Fine
glass grew in the valley and on hillsides all along this stage.