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'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [‎111] (120/568)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (282 folios). It was created in 1918. It was written in English, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Armenian, Kurdish and Syriac. 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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\\
si] I
INHABITANTS 111
Sinjahi (1,000 horsemen ?). Mahldesht district; nomads and noted
mule-breeders.
Guran (3,000 horsemen ?). In the country NW. of the Mahldesht
plain, towards the plain of Zohab where the nomad sections of the
tribe winter.
Jaff (4,000 horsemen ?). This group winters in the country east of
Kufri and about Khanikin, and for the summer moves northwards
via Halebjeh to the Penjevin district; a part of it has been in the
habit of going farther and crossing the frontier into Persian territory,
where it pillaged the country-side. Some sections (e. g. Sadani and
Badaghi) occasionally winter west of the Diyaleh between Chaman
Koprii and Qara Bulaq. The Jaff group, formerly very powerful, is in
a state of disintegration, the family of its paramount chiefs (the
Begzadeh of the Pushtamala section) having lost almost all influence.
The family still owns considerable property in Suleimaniyeh,
Halebjeh, Penjevin, and Qizil Eibat. The depredations of the .Jaff
were the cause of much friction.between Turkey and Persia.
The Bajlan, on the left bank of the Diyaleh north of Qasr-i-Shlrln,
formerly belonged to the Jaff group, but are now separated from it
owing to blood-feuds, which are still kept up. The Bajlan used to
furnish a guard for the Chlah Surkh oil-wells.
Hamawand (2,000 souls ?). Between Kirkuk and Suleimaniyeh.
The centre of the Hamawand country is the Baziyan valley in the
Qara Dagh. Semi-nomadic. Very famous as raiders and fighters.
Baudiyeh (4,000 families ?). In the plains east of the Tigris, on the
banks of the Lesser Zab. Warlike semi-nomads.
D'sdiyeh (or 'Dizzai'? 5,000 families?). Between Altun Koprti
and Erbil and about the Qara Chok Dagh ; head-quarters at Makhmur.
Mainly sedentary.
Shuan (15,000 souls ?). In the hills north of Kirkuk and east of
Altun Koprii. Apparently a strong but fairly quiet tribe.
Sheikh Bezeini (4,000 families ?). Villagers in country NNE. of
Altun Koprti; move to Wazneh Pass in summer. ' A great and
warlike tribe, turbulent and fierce.' Noted robbers. Make Martini-
Henry rifles.
Girdi (6,000 families '?). East of Erbil, about Ashqaf Saqqa ;
move to Wazneh district in summer. A powerful tribe.
There is a sedentaiy branch of the Girdi SW. of Shemsdinan.
Khoshnao (2,000 families ?). About Shakhlawa. Sedentary; are
said to work for the Girdi and Sheikh Bezeini and to be unwarlike.
There are apparently other Khoshnao south of Rowanduz about
Belassan.
Mengur (2,000 families ?). Lahjan plain, Pishdir plain, Eaniyeh

About this item

Content

This volume is A Handbook of Mesopotamia, Volume I, General (Naval Staff, Intelligence Department: November 1918). This is an updated and expanded edition of A Handbook of Mesopotamia, Volume I, General (Admiralty War Staff, Intelligence Department: August 1916) (IOR/L/MIL17/15/41/1). This is an introductory volume containing matter of a general nature giving an account of conditions in Mesopotamia, for the most part as they were before the First World War.

The volume includes a note on official use, a title page and 'Note'. There is a page of 'Contents' that includes the following chapters and sections:

  • Chapter 1: Boundaries and Physical Features;
  • Chapter 2: Climate;
  • Chapter 3: Minerals;
  • Chapter 4: Fauna and Flora;
  • Chapter 5: Hygiene;
  • Chapter 6: History;
  • Chapter 7: Inhabitants;
  • Chapter 8: Religions;
  • Chapter 9: Administration;
  • Chapter 10: Irrigation of Irak [Iraq];
  • Chapter 11: Agriculture and Land Tenure;
  • Chapter 12: Commerce and Industry;
  • Chapter 13: Currency, Weights, and Measures;
  • Chapter 14: Communications and Transport;
  • Vocabularies;
  • Index.
Extent and format
1 volume (282 folios)
Arrangement

The volume is arranged in numbered chapters. There is a contents page and an alphabetically arranged index.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the first folio and terminates at the last folio; 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'. of the folio.

Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in
English, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Armenian, Kurdish and Syriac in Latin and Arabic script
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'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [‎111] (120/568), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/15/41/2, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023472673.0x000079> [accessed 10 June 2026]

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