'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎128] (181/905)

128
POPULATION.
[CHAP. VI.
tobacco, honey, gall-nuts, as well as other productions of the
country; and there might be much more if the people had
any wish to create wants, or even to indulge those already
known.
The desires of the Kurd seem to be limited to the posses
sion of an excellent horse, with substantial clothing, and a
sufficiency of the ordinary food of the country, of which milk
forms a large proportion. Therefore, if contentment be in
reality wealth, the people of this country seem to possess it;
and, so long as this state of things continues, they may be
considered a happy race.
Of the population of Kurdistan it is difficult to speak, with
any degree of precision, in the present state of our knowledge;
but it appears to be thickly peopled, considering the moun
tainous character of the country ; such is certainly the case
in those parts which have been examined by Mr. Rich, 1 Major
Rawlinson, and preceding travellers.
The Sekkir, Niir-ed-din, Shinkis, Gellates, Bulbasi, Jass,
Mikris, together with the Bahdinan tribes under the prince
of Amadiyah, and Rowanduz, make up an aggregate of
about 400,000 souls; to whom must be added a large
nomad population, and the numerical strength of many, as
yet, unvisited districts. The number of the Chaldeans and
Nestorians proves to be much under the estimate made
previous to Mr. Ainsworth's visit to their country; but
still it may be presumed that the population of Kurdistan,
west of Zagros, amounts to about 2,500,000, or, perhaps,
rather more; and a smaller number would scarcely bear a
fair proportion to the horses and other cattle which are
known to exist in the country.
Having thus briefly glanced at ancient Assyria, we pass on
to a tract of territory lying farther north.
1 Rich's Kurdistdn, Vol. I. p. 153.