'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎226v] (457/706)

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MIL—MIL PASS
that cultivate their lands, the result being a strong and most pleasing feel
ing of mutual attachment, which makes them cling to each other under all
circumstances, and regard each other’s welfare as identical. The Mikri
chiefs declare they value a family of their own peasantry as equal to two
or even three Turkish families. The Kurd never visits his chief without
the"offering of a lamb or sheep, and in any exigency, when he is suddenly
called upon to produce a large sum of money, the chief is sure of being
cheerfully assisted by all his peasants to the utmost of their means. Still,
however," the Kurds are half savage, and thus the traveller in passing casual
ly through the country, and perceiving their dirty miserable villages is
apt to infer distress and poverty, and to argue inferiority of their general
condition to that of the peasantry of other countries.
Physically they are of remarkably fine stature, their black, well kept
beards giving them a very martial appearance. Their dress consists of
moderately wide linen pantaloons reaching down below the knee, leather
shoes, with woollen buckles and Persian, stockings; over the short blouse
they wear a jacket without sleeves of a very coarse woollen material,
fitting tightly round the chest. The girdle, the buckle of which is alway*
ornamented with silver rosettes, contains the curved dagger which was
formerly in use in Persia. For undress they wear a tightfitting felt cap,
with a variegated or blue turban wound round it. When on horseback,
the Mikii always carries a lance and shield ; the former of bamboo, the
latter of rhinoceros skin, both of which are imported from India via Bagh
dad. Their women are not veiled. Their figures are strongly built, and
their features regular, though often coarse. The men are open in their
intercourse with strangers, and, being Sunnis, have no prejudice about
associating and eating with Christians. Their language is Kurdish, but
they all understand Turkish and Persian. They number 2,000 families,
probably 7,000 souls.— (Rawlinson — Curzon.)
Until quite recently the Mikris were loyal subjects of Persia, but intrigues
from Tehran and Turkish efforts have completed their disaffection, while
at the present time, their capital Sauj Bulagh is in the hands of the Turks.
(Soane, 1910).
mIl—
An isolated pillar on a hill, 8 miles north east of Kazvin. The popular
idea is that it was used as a lighthouse when the greater part of Central
Persia was covered by sea.— (Schindler.)
MlL PASS— Elev. 7,000',
This pass is crossed by the road from Harunabad to Kirmanshah vid
Tang-i-Showan, 4 miles south-east of the latter ; below it to the north-west
lies the plateau of Banasara, which contains grass and water, and some
cultivation in the early summer months. The descent to the Mahldasht
plain is steep and rugged, that to Banasara gentle, the plateau and pass
being almost on the same level. The pass itself is a small bare saddle.
From the north-east the hills of small command, slope gently towards it ;
to the south-west the spur rises to small rocky peaks. The pass cannot