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'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [134] (143/568)
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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
134
EELIG] ONS
tion, and Judgement, they appear to be appropriations from Biblical
sources, overlaid with a mass of fable. They regard Christ as an
angel in human form, and recognize Mohammed as a prophet with
Abraham and the patriarchs.
The Yezidis have no central ecclesiastical authority, but a hierarchy
of castes and sects, of whom the highest are or princes. Next
come the sheikhs, mullahs, qawals (preachers), pirs (who exercise
priestly functions); and lastly the and who tend
the shrine of Sheikh 'Adi. The ritual practised by the itinerant
qatvals is of a highly esoteric nature, having to do with the worship
of the Peacock King, and strangers are rigidly excluded. Both
baptism and circumcision are custoijuary. Divorce is permitted only
upon proof of infidelity. In the matter of fasts they follow Moslem
customs. The pilgrimage to Sheikh Adi is an annual affair, accom
panied by much ceremonial and festivity: there are lesser shrines,
such as those of Mohammed Eesham, Khasia, Sitt Nefisse, and Abdi
Eesho, which are also much in favour. The dress of most Yezidis
is white, with a short brown cloak. Some of their religious leaders
wear black.
Sabiaks
The Sabians were mentioned in the Koran together with Christians
and Jews, and like them entitled, in the view of older Mohammedan
theologians, to tolerance as the possessors of a written revelation.
The exact nature of their religious beliefs has not been properly
determined. Baptism is one of their principal rites, and frequent
ceremonial ablution is enjoined ; they are said to venerate Yahya, or
John the Baptist, as being a reincarnation of Seth, but consider both
Moses and Christ to be false teachers. They place Paradise in the
Pole Star. They are an uncircumcised, but not monogamous race.
Their ceremonies are said to be conducted in Syriac and closed to
strangers. They possess scriptures of their own.
Jews
In the past Mesopotamia has been a principal centre of Judaism.
The captivity of the Jews in Babylon (sixth and fifth centuries b.c.)
has its monuments in the reputed tombs of Ezra at 'Ozeir, of Ezekiel
at Kifi, and of Daniel at Kirkuk. From the period of the captivity
onwards there existed in the country a large Jewish community,
which was increased after the destruction of Jerusalem by the
Eomans ( a.i >. 70). Under the Sassanids and the earlier Caliphs of
Baghdad ( a.d . third-eleventh century) Babylonia was the chief seat
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 View the complete information for this record
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'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [134] (143/568), 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_100023472673.0x000090> [accessed 12 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/15/41/2
- Title
- 'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1:556, ii-r:ii-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence