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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' [‎67r] (138/312)

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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99
From a variety of data the width of the Zab at Nimrud (junction with the Tigris) at the
pomt where the Erbil road crosses, and at Herir, varies from 150 to 200 yards, while the tUIs
is seldom less than 200 yards, and occasionally more. ^ ^
Z r r b 13 - al ''; a y s m ’ lc h deeper, and contained, when we saw it, a larger body of water
than the Tigris, whose tributaries are not supplied by so many snow mountains as the Zab.
Beyond the ferry we entered a cuntry of sand and sandstone, with numerous rivulets.
There are several villages on the banks of the Zab, which makes a northward bend round
the Gharah Surgh. Halted at the small village of Isa. “
5th July, 3rd Started up the valley of the Akra river, a tributary of the Zab Left
the valley near a low hil called Ser Deriyeh, and below it entered on the extensive p ain of
Nabkur, studded with villages, but only partially cultivated. p n 01
The Khazir river flows down the centre. This nlain and tb^ A Wo ^„iio j i.
the rice for Mosul. Halted at dark in village Chorek * Vall6y pr ° duCe m0st ° £
■ 6th July, 4th stage.— Jebal Maklub is prolonged to the sontb ^ a
on the side of wliich is the large village of Zenganah. The Khazir forces its way throlgh' these
hills at the foot of Maklub, but turns aside at a hill called Ain-el-Saf™ Tn xirou 8 n I; “ ese
ridge between this and Jebal Maklub is the village and Khan of Huberda'h. ^ 1 sandstone
From there to Mosul is 4 hours (18 miles). *
Kurds round Rawanduz.
Bilb ass .—These Kurds inhabit the districts south of the Kandil Dao-h
along the Persian frontier in Pishder district, and were once a laro- e tribe"
but are now much reduced in numbers. They have a very bad 5 reputa
tion, moving over the frontier when they get into difficulties with either
Government.
Balak .—They are partly sedentary and partly nomad. These also inhabit
the Kandil Dagh, and much the same districts as the Bilbass. They are
partly sedentary. Both Bilbass and Balak tribes go to the upper slopes of the
Kandil Dagh for the summer.
Sin .—In the Marga and Eania plains and slopes of the Kotsrut and
Kurkur Daghs are the Sin Kurds, mostly sedentary, with a few nomads
to go to the Kandil Dagh in summer.
Akhur .—South of Rawanduz, on the Garak Dagh and the Nalkewan district,
are the Akhur or Akoyeh Kurds, all sedentary, and number about thirty
villages.
Badilia .—North of Rawanduz round Barrakia are the Badilia Kurds,
numbering about 20 villages, in a fertile well-wooded district.
Beni Hindawin .—East and north-east of Rawanduz, in the valley of the
Rawanduz Chai, are the Beni Hindawin or Hindawani Kurds, all living in
villages.
liawanduz .—Round and in Rawanduz are several small Kurdish tribes,
clans of hereditary Begs, who once governed the place.
Herir .—West of the Garak Dagh, in the fertile plain of Herir, along the
south bank of the Zab, are the Herir Kurds, once a powerful tribe. They
live in villages on the plain.
Sursi .—Round Koniatman and as far as the Zab are some sedentary Kurds
called Sursi. They are said to be great thieves. They live in fifteen
villages.
All these tribes are Sunnis, and talk Kermanji. A few men can generally
be found in the villages who talk Turkish.
o 2

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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' [‎67r] (138/312), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/144, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100035451478.0x00008b> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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