'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' [‎69r] (142/312)

27th May.—General direction, N.W. A raft was made of a framework
of reeds placed over 10 inflated sheep skins. This took mule loads and
two people, and was propelled by a single paddle.
Advantage was taken of a bend of the channel to give the raft a good start
towards the opposite bank; and then it was carried f mile down stream at
each crossing ; the river from bank to bank was 550 yards wide.
Total lime of crossing was 3 hours 35 minutes. The animals swam and would
not face the current without the leader having a man swimming along side to
guide him. One mule was carried 1 | miles down stream, and would have
been drowned if he had not managed to reach a timely shoal in mid stream
We started from the right bank at 10-40 a.m., heading across some low gral
velly hills nearly due north. Weather became overcast and cloudy. Tem
perature 94°, with a hot wind from the south-west.
j m ^ es th® track turns up the valley of a small stream, and runs paral
lel and about 1 mile distant from the rocky ridge from the Berdin Goro- e This
runs west-north-west, and no track led over it. The country is cut up in all
directions by deep gravelly ravines, with small streams flowing from east to
west.
After 5 miles the ravines are thickly wooded with oaks and brushwood
but the path is broad and easy. '
. K 0 a ^ 2W.—At 10 miles pass Kala Tai (2,000'), a steep gravelly ridge, ris
ing 300 feet above us running at right angles to the road which passes
the south end of it. The ridge is 500 yards long and 150 yards broad, and
commands a large stretch of the surrounding country being too far from the
range to the north-east to be commanded by it. It forms a good landmark.
At the north end is a ruined fort with only one wall now standing and the
remains of two storeys of stone-arched rooms with very low doors. At the
foot of the mound to the west is a plateau on which is" Kala Tai v’illao-e, on
the banks of a large stream which flows through a well-cultivated strip of
countiy^ towards the Zab. Judging by the ruins of acqueducts, mills, and
foundations of houses, a large town once stood here. A large camp of the
Imam Ka Kol Kurds stood near the village; they intended moving into sum
mer quarters in about a fortnight.
On leaving Kala Tai, we entered a wooded upland country, crossino*
several streams in deep ravines. These flow from the ridge now 1 mile dis^
tant to the northward. Soil rich conglomerate with red sandstone ledges
cropping out at intervals. &
At 12.| miles pass ravine with a small masonry bridge. Several flocks of
sheep and herds of cattle seen; the shepherds about here are armed with
long guns and knives.
Begil.—At 15 miles, 4-45 p.m., reach Begil or Bezil (1,905'), a large vil-
lage at the mouth of a deep gorge. I wo streams, running in parallel ravines,
come fiom the range to the east, enclosing between them an isolated rocky
mound, on the top and sides of which is built the village. The houses are flat-
roofed, and well built of sun-dried brick. The slopes of the ravines are culti
vated in small terraces irrigated by small channels from the streams, and are
thickly covered with olive, ilex, oak, sycamore, fruit trees, and oleanders along
the stream bank. A quantity of rice is grown in these valleys. Akra and this
district are both celebrated for the quality of rice produced. There are several
mills, one being curiously situated in a rock-cut chamber in the side of the
ravine. The inhabitants both here and in Akra are chiefly Jews, the rest being
Kurds. Shaikh Muhammad, a Zebari Kurd, has a large house here, owns large
tracts in the surrounding districts, and is a man of considerable influence in