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'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' [‎48r] (100/312)

The record is made up of 1 volume (152 folios). It was created in 1890. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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There is a good stone serai on the north side outside the town. A Kaim-
makam lives here, and just now 500 Regulars were encamped on the plain to
the south. They had 300 very fine mules, some of them nearly 15 hands,
which they used for riding, and formed a sort of mounted infantry for the
protection of the post road. There were some 50 zaptiyahs as well. The
road is much infested by Hamawands and various other robbers.
The inhabitants of Kifri are mostly Kurds, but include a few Arabs and
Jews. r lhe Kurdish white felt coat with long sleeves was generally worn with
the Persian conical felt cap “ Kulah namdab” and blue trousers.
Overlooking the town from the north is a steep ridge of sandstone and
gypsum 300 to 400 feet high running 298° and 130°, merging to the south
east in the Jebel Khushka, and skirting the plain for some distance to the
north-west.
On the 10th the weather was clear with a few clouds. Temperature
noon 84 j . In the afternoon it clouded over and rained heavily till midnight,
with a strong wind from the north-west. Temperature 65° at 6 p.m.
Between Kasr-i-Shirin and Kifri, by the route we followed, there are no
obstacles for the passage of troops except the Diala River, which would have
to be bridged at this time of year. With pontoons or trestle work this could
easily be done. r lhe remainder of this route to Mosul follows the post road
from Kifri, and has been several times described by travellers. The stages
are—
Tuz Khurmatu
Taouk
Kirkuk
Altun Keupri
Erbil
Kulak
Mosul
.. 24 miles.
.. 21
.. 25
.. 27
99
.. 30 „
.. 33 „
Total ... 182 „ Kifri to Mosul.
The total distance from Kermanshah to Mosul by this route is 316 miles*
Through Sulaimaniah and Koi Sanjal?it is also 346 miles, but the road is con
siderably rougher, and there are several difficult points for guns {see Colonel
Bell’s Turkey in Asia) ; so distances being equal, the former is far the best
to take.
The road from Kifri to Mosul has been several times traversed by Turkish
troops and guns.
Route No. VI—Baghdad to Sulaimaniah via Kifri and the
Zagirma Pass.
This route follows an almost direct line joining the two places.
Prom Baghdad as far as Kifri the Mosul post road is followed and is well
known, but from Kifri to Sulaimaniah the road is hardly ever used, owing
to its passing through the country of the Hamawand Kurds, whose raiding
parties keep the whole country in a state of terror. It is an old trade route, and
presents few natural difficulties.
The route to Sulaimaniah at present used by caravans lies through Kirkuk.

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Content

Narrative report on surveys conducted in Mesopotamia [Iraq], North-West Persia [Iran] and Luristan [Lorestān]. The preface provides the following information:

'The object was to explore various tracts of little known country through which roads lead north from the head of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to the Waliat of Van and North-West Persia near Urmia. To accomplish this, two routes through Luristan from the Tigris valley were travelled. In southern Kurdistan the roads from Kifri to Sulaimaniah, from there to Rawanduz, and Rawanduz to Amadiyeh, were gone over in Turkey, and Suj-Bulak to Karmanshah through Sakiz and Sihna in Persia. The country south of lake Van to Mosul was traversed in the routes Amadiyeh to Mosul, Mosul to Jazirah, Jazirah to Bashkala, Bashkala to Urmia, and Urmia to Suj Bulak through Ushnu.'

The report contains the following illustrations:

  • Tak-i-Girra, looking east (f 42).
  • Sketch showing the Town of Rawanduz [Rāwāndūz], (f 63).
  • Sketch showing the bridge at Rawanduz. (f 66).
  • Sketch showing Amadiyeh [Al 'Amādīyah] from the north-east, (f 76).
  • Sketch showing the bridge of Mosul (f 85).

The report contains the following maps:

  • Pass of Tak-i-Girra, on the Baghdad-Kermanshah Route, December 1889 (f 41).
  • Country in vicinity of Rawanduz, May 1889 (f 64).
  • Plateau of Amadiyeh and surrounding country, June 1888 (f 74).
  • Plan of Mosul and surrounding country, corrected from Jones' survey, August 1889, (f 87).
  • Country between Feishkhabur [Fīsh Khābūr] and Zakho, June 1888, (f 101).
Extent and format
1 volume (152 folios)
Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 154; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

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English in Latin script
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'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' [‎48r] (100/312), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/144, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100035451478.0x000065> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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