'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' [‎88r] (180/312)

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The following notes of temperatures, &c., were taken in doors at Mosul:
Instrument.
8th June.
10th June.
11th June.
13th June.
14th June.
9-0 A M.
8-0 A.M.
9-0 A.M.
Noon.
11-0 A.M.
3-0 p.m.
7-0 A.M.
Noon.
4 JP.M.
Large aneroid ...
29-29
29-23
29 17
29-20
29-20
Small
29-28
29'49
29 39
29-34
...
29-37
29'36
Temperature
84°
78°
83°
91°
88°
93°
83°
93°
96°
Hot winds and thunderstorm on the 14th and 15th.
The nights become much cooler after midnight, and the mornings are
always fresh.
In Baghdad a Turkish lira is equal to Rs. 10, while in Mosul it is equal
to Rs. 185 . A Maria Theresa dollar = 26 piastres; and are chiefly current
among merchants.
A rouble is nearly equal to a rupee, but only a few stray coins were seen.
In out-of-the-way places they were refused, while the rupee was accepted
everywhere.
The Turkish Medijieh usually went for Jls. 2-8-0.
100 roubles are a fraction less than 100 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. .
Routes from Mosul.
Route to Baghdad .—The more direct route following the river bank is not
much followed by caravans. The spring time, when the grass is on the plain,
is the best time to travel along it. There are no villages until Tekrit is
reached, and no supplies are obtainable except from Arab nomads.
Cameron gives following description of this route in 1879 :
Ha started under the protection of Ferhan Fasha, the chief of the Shammar.
1st Stage .—To Hammam Ali, 4 hours, south of Mosul.
The first part of the road lay along a perfect level and after 5 miles passed through low hills
for a couple of miles, the muddy hanks of small streams being very slippery after the rain.
There are sulphur springs at Hammam Ah, covered over by a ruinous building. Many people
come here from Mosul to bathe. On the other hank of the river were the ruins of Nimrud.
2nd Stage .—Marched 8 § hours over fairly level country, the only break being at the beginning
and ending of the march, when we changed from the lower alluvial plain bordering the river to
the more elevated southern plain of Mesopotamia. The change was made by easy slopes; nothing
remarkable all day except an ancient canal 30 feet wide : in the evening we encamped with Shaikh
Azowi, a sub-chief of the Abu Hamed Arabs on the river bank.
3rd Stage.—In the morning passed some sulphur springs and bitumen ponds, after which kept
along the lower plain,
A few scrubby oaks and prickly shrubs of acacia were met with. Small parties of Jehour
Arabs were met on the move, and soon after we passed cultivation irrigated by small channels
from the river drawn up by bullock lifts. The sedentary Jebour Arabs who cultivate the ground
are much despised by the Bedouins. #
In four hours reached Kala Sherghat, the road being level except for half a mile, where we
crossed a promontory running into the lower plain close to Wady Meksir. Kala Sherghat is the
head-quarters of Ferhan Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , the chief of the Shammar Arabs.
Only a few tents of Seoni nomad Arabs are to be seen here. It was once the site of the
Assyrian city of Asshur.
4th Stage,-- Left Sherghat and gradually ascended the higher plain having the commencement
of the Hamrin mountains between us and the river. The rise about 150 feet out of the plain.
At noon halted at Bel-a-dij, a favourite camp ground where a wady broke through the hills.
Thunderstorm with heavy rain filled the wady in the night.
5th Stage. Left camp crossing a country cut by wadys running in all directions and entered,
a plain bounded on the east by the Hamrin. fiidge stretching* south and west further than eye
could reach. Halted in a small Arab camp