'The History of Persia, from the most early period to the present time: containing an account of the religion, government, usages and character of the inhabitants of that kingdom. By Colonel Sir John Malcolm, KCB, KLS Late minister plenipotentiary to the court of Persia from the supreme government of India. In two volumes.' [‎208] (241/786)

THE HISTORY OF PERSIA.
chap . xx. manently established themselves in this province which is still
inhabited by an original and rude race; who, though they have
departed from the religion, maintain the usages and habits of their
forefathers, and speak a barbarous dialect of the ancient language
of Persia.
The causes which have enabled this people to preserve their soilf
from strangers are obvious. Their country is mountainous and
barren; and the few beautiful and fertile valleys, which are inter
spersed among its clustering hills, offer no adequate temptation to
reward the effort that would be necessary to its complete reduo
tion : for its warlike and robust inhabitants are singularly attached
to their native land; and the conquest of their rugged mountains
would be found as difficult to make, as it would prove unprofitable
to maintain. This race of men have never been united J under
* There are some Arabian tribes in this country; and several qf the principal
Kurdish chiefs boast a descent from families of that nation.
"t* The historian of Kurdistan includes all the province of Laristan in that country;
which, according to him, extends to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The same author states, that
Kurd signifies " valiant;" and that Roostum, though born in Seistan, was of a Kurdish
family. He says, that the common reading of Roostum-e-Goord, in Ferdosi, is erro
neous, and that it should be Roostum-e=-Kurd, or Roostum the Kurd.— Tuarikh Ak-
harady by S heeriff-u-deen.
J We are told by Greek historians, that when Artaxerxes Longimanus entered
their country with an immense army, he was only saved from destruction by one of his
allies fomenting a division between the two great rulers of Carduchia, that led to their
consenting to a peace with that monarch. SherrifF-u-deen, in his history of this nation,
asserts, that when an envoy from a chief of Kurdistan came before Mahomed, the pro
phet was so struck by his fierce looks and gigantic frame of body, that he prayed to
God that so formidable a race should never be united; and hence (this pious author
concludes) those divisions, which have ever since continued to distract that country.