'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' [‎75r] (154/312)

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The plateau slopes slightly towards the west, and the soil along the
summit is almost entirely sheets of rock.
The Christian quarter consisting of about 20 houses is separate from the
rest of the place. Water-supply on the summit is from wells, which is mostly bad
in summer; and from aspring in the hillside about 100 yards outside the west
gate. It is also brought in skins on donkies from the stream in the valley.
Along the north and east sides of the plateau is a deep narrow valley with
a large stream called the Rudbar Amadiyeh coming from a gorge in the Ser
Amadiyeh Range to the north.
The bottom of the valley is cultivated in terraces, thickly planted with
orchards of fig, pear, walnut, pomegranate, &c.
Some large poplars, sycamore, ash, and alder line the stream banks.
The kaimraakam has a house down among these gardens. In summer most
of the people leave the plateau and migrate there, chiefly because of the better
water-supply. A Dominican missionary lives on the plateau in a good two-
storied house.
Amadiyeh is now in the Van Waliat since the Hakkiari Waliat has been
broken up. It ought from its position to be under Mosul; and no reason could
be found for its being thus administered.
A valley, known as the Supna valley, 6 to 8 miles broad extends to the
north-west, where it meets the Khabur valley at Zakho.
The rice to be bought here is very good, coming principally from the Zab
valley : Indian corn and wheat also are cultivated. Oak galls, tabacco, dried
fruits, and raisins are the chief exports, mostly to Mosul market.
Large quantities of tobacco of a good quality are produced for export in the
district. In Kwaneh was a large room where bundles were in various stages of
drying and preparation in several villages were stacks of wood cut into lengths
about the size and shape of railway sleepers of sycamore, poplar, and ash chiefly,
waiting to be exported to Mosul. Abundance of good thatching grass and
withies for making baskets grow by the stream banks.
Kwaneh is surrounded by a thick grove of mulberry trees, and a good deal
of silk is produced in this district. Vines twined themselves up the trees. The
road to the east gate of Amadiyeh runs along a narrow neck joining the plateau
to the spurs on that side. The country is cut up by several deep ravines flowing
south into the head-waters of Ghara stream. The soil is a fertile reddish loam
with occasional ledges of sandstone. The ruined Christian village of Mariska,
with a cluster of deserted orchards burnt by the Kurds, stands about half way
to Amadiyeh from Kwaneh.
Routes from Amadiyeli.
The principal route from Amadiyeh is that leading over the hills to the north
by the Zab valley to Bashkala, and from there to Van, Urmia, or Khoi. Trade
from Mosul, Jazirah, and Zakho follows this line and it forms the most direct
and easiest line of communication between Mosul and Van.
This road runs north from Amadiyeh through the gorge in the Ser Ama
diyeh range, and after passing Julamerk it joins the Zab Valley, which it
follows until Bashkala is reached.
The country passed through is rough and mountainous, and it is only com
paratively speaking that the road is easy for traffic. It is good for pack ani
mals, but scarcely passable in its present state for guns. It is a very import
ant strategic road, leading as it does direct from Mosul and the Mesopotamian
plain to Van, Bayazid, Khoi, and the country adjoining the Russian frontier.
VOL. I. Q