'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' [‎72v] (149/312)

A caravan of 50 mules was met here, crossing the Zab on two rafts: they
were Mosul merchants going into the mountains through the Balinda Gorge,
trading from village to village among the Kurds, selling cottons and other
stuffs. They were seven days out from Mosul, the stages being small this
time of year on account of the animals staying to graze.
Latka. —At 13 miles a halt was made at Latka (1,015'), a large Kurdish
village on a wooded spur overlooking the Zab. On the higher slopes are terraces
of wheat and orchards, and on the lower are rice fields watered by the several
streams which flow from the range to the south. The water-supply is very
good. Shaikh Futta Ala, a Zebari Kurd, lives here, and is a rich and influential
man in these parts; with a seat on the mejlis of Amadiyeh. Honey is
obtainable here and in Bila Keupri. The slopes of the border ranges are thickly
covered with trees and brushwood ; and the view down the valley reminds one of
an English park dotted with fine trees and edged with thick forest. The soil
is a rich reddish clay mixed with conglomerate, and grows fine grass at
this season.
Weather clear and bright: temperature 60° at 5-30 a.m. and 84° at noon,
when the sun was powerful and the air damp and unpleasant, with great
numbers of flies. The climate is said to be malarial in summer time; and the
inhabitants usually migrate to the hills then.
1 st June—General direction, N.W. Left Latka (1,615'), the road
trending to the south-west at first, and then running between the main border
range and a low wooded outlier which interposes between it and the river.
Cutting through the latter are several small ravines through which streams flow,
and on the banks of which are Serukani (1,565'), Beau, and other small Kurdish
villages half hidden among the trees. The track is broad and easy through a
thickly-wooded country. Some fine walnut, sycamore, willow, oak, juniper
and poplar trees were seen ; some oaks were 3' to 4' diameter. The soil was
reddish rich clay overlying white friable limestone. Round the villages wheat
and tobacco were cultivated in terraces, and rice along the stream banks.
Along the Zab are lai’ge belts of rice also.
Firay. —At 9 miles the road turned north through a ravine, and we reached
the Zab valley again near the village of Firay (1,745'). The river narrows
between two rocky ledges, and a couple of trees have been thrown across, forming
a foot bridge scarcely passable for mules. The piers of an old masonry
bridge could be seen. The river makes a sharp bend from the north, emerg
ing from a deep rift in the Gurajar Dagh. A high snowy peak, probably a
mountain in Chal, bearing 31-8°, could be seen through this. Only footpaths
lead through, and there is no track fit for mules.
Ghara Su .— Down the valley, from the direction of Amadiyeh, flows a
tributary called the Ghara Su, and also through a rift in the range to the
south a small river, called the 11 ubat Su, which we forded at 12| miles
(1,570 ). It comes from Spindari and the country of the Lower Missuri
Kurds.
Sircheh. —North-west of the gorge of the Rubat Su the ridge gets lower
and more rounded in shape. The village of Sircheh is situated just in the
gorge; behind which appears a high jagged range, with the summits tipped
with snow. We followed the valley of the Ghara Su towards Amadiyeh, fordmg
the stream at 14j miles. Only a few stunted trees could be seen now in the
valley; the inaccessible slopes of the ridge were still thickly wooded, although
getting barer as we ascend the valley. Soil is a light gravelly clay overlying
sandstone and conglomerate. Some traces of former cultivation were seen.
Numerous streams come from the ridges on either hand. Clover hay was being