'Notes of a journey through Kurdistan in the winter of 1881-82.' [‎18v] (36/56)

32
Heavy snow, making roof of my room leak like fun, detained me here
till 13th.
Met extraordinary character here, Nur Mahomed, son of Sultan Mahomed,
, T ,, , , t , p Khyheree, from village Kudum, near Jumrood.
Grides. 0m ca; - Eessaldllr of Bright and inteUient, appears 50, says he is 98.
formerly by his own account in high power and
greatly trusted in Kabul; fought against us in 1840. Served as Ressaldar in
the "Khaki llessalah' , in mutiny; worships Lumsden, remembers Dalv, &c.;
shows three severe wounds received at Delhi, made three " haj's" to'Mecca!
Nur Mahomed 's travels. Served {is a volunteer with Turks in 1877, has been
wandering amongst Kurds since as a fakir, and
going in spring to Merv to raise Turkomans against his pet enemies the
liussians. The story of his own life is too romantic to be true, but I never
heard a clearer memory, more vivid description of events, nor a truer idea of
geography amongst Orientals than he possessed; and I found it impossible
* The impression I formed was to puzzle him as to relative position of Merv,
tt'oi" 8 XKtr— ® ok 1 hara 1 ' •h O f ho is a fanatic,* and
and periods when they came off, were has lllS head slightly turned, SO COLlld not get a
all mixed up. ^ consecutive narrative from him. Briefly, he'says,
that from 1G to 40 years of age he served at Kabul, this during Sikh occupa
tion of Punjab, lhat he was prisoner two years at Bokhara, whence he was
ransomed by Kurchay and Kabuli merchants, to whom he gave a bond on his
father for Rs. 40,000. This apparently was when Mahomed i \kbar Khan was
theic confined, of A^hose escape he gives romantic tale of a mine driven under
hy some piolessional Afghan robbers to his prison. In returning he
% isited Sabz, Balkh, &c. Gave his discharge on Mahomed Akbar's death, and
1 tCl "^ eia ^ 0 Baghdad, and Mecca, via Mosul, Aleppo, Sham, Misr,
Jledma, and back Egypt, Alexandria, Constantinople ; stayed three years, again
t This must have been in 1857. ^ ^ ecc a, Yemen, stayed one year, returned to
Mecca; Misr, Sham, Mosul, Baghdad, two years;
Busreh, Mecca via Nejd, Bombay,f Kurrachi, Peshawar, Kabul. Here lie
as employed in command of a force against the Kaffirs. Gave vivid
desciiption of their two chief strongholds, Gumbir and Khabir, quite im-
pi egnable, but after waiting before the pass, on either side of which they
aie situated, he learned through spies that on occasion of the wedding of
the son of headman of the one with the daughter of the other he made a
night attack and found forts deserted, and captured place, slew a lot, and took
200 women and children, who sold as slaves from Bs. 1,000 downward. Spoke
greatly of strength of Kaffir wine, and skill and force of their archery. Arrows
would transfix a man at 200 yards {sic.)
This he said was about 20 years since. He was then placed in irons by Shere
Nur Mahomed. three months ; and sent to Herat in command of
two cavalry regiments of 600 men each ; here he was
se^ en years. T\ as present at Mahomed Afzul's death, and that he was the man who
+ Baur reached is days with two Klian prisoner, J by surprise, and sent
regiments; messengers from Kabul him OJE Secretly Under CSCOrt to Kabul. Served
d g "t o a r t „^da;ro.V'; ountry t00k r ar IfA A ^ dul Rahman p rev iousiy.
After Herat, travelled to Munchao, Jengidi, Pandeh,
Merv (his second visit, he declared). Meshed, Teheran, Baghdad, Mecca, Baghdad.
§ Whenever in difficulties calls
Turkey in 1877, and since then wandering amongst
himself English subject and appeals Kurds. § Was with Hamawands in the massacre of
to our c onsu s. ^ Persians on Upper Diala last year, and gloried in it.
" Even worse infidels, those Shiahs, than you are,*' he said. Beminding him
he had not mentioned the Guides in his narrative, he said he returned by^sea to
|| Offered to take me to Merv ^ on ^ a y whilst siege of Delhi was going on, and
with him, and I believe he would went straight up and served under Daly He
pan; I'Touid w £n irfe" COm- rem<iml)ered ^ drill, and had undoubtedly served. ||
He tells me they knew of my intended visit two days before my arrival
A horseman of the Khan's, who was in Souj Boulak, having, the very evening I
had engaged mules for there, ridden through with the news. Opinions were
divided as to whether I was Russian or English, but all agreed I was a Govern
ment emissary, lells me the Khan is terribly in debt; has about 300 cousins