'Kurdistan and the Kurds' [‎7r] (13/122)

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Northern Kurdistan, whose people are more vigorous and politically more
advanced. It is inhabited very largely only by nomad or semi-nomad
tribes; this is especially the case in the south. Nomad habits constitute
as effective a hindrance to agriculture and the development of the country
here as in the regions of Northern Kurdistan which lie to the north of the
vildyah of Diarbekr, or between Lake Van and Lake Urmiyah ; while the
more mountainous nature of the country renders it more suitable for
cattle-rearing, sheep-breeding and similar occupations. The raids also and
depredations incidental to nomad life make it necessary for the tribes to
y invest their wealth as far as possible in stock which can be easily moved ;
nor does the inefficient Turkish administration tend to check brigandage,
or to predispose the tribesmen in favour of a settled life. The lack of
communications, which are far more imperfect here than in Northern
Kurdistan, also hampers trade; for almost the only channel by which
goods can be conveyed to the markets for .disposal is the river Tigris; for
the railway which is to connect Nisibin and Mosul with Baghdad is still
unfinished.
Amongst Kurdish towns in this country the following may be
mentioned: Jezirat-ibn-‘Omar, Zakho, Altun Koprii, Erbil, Kirkuk,
Rowanduz, Suleimaniyah, and Koi Sanjaq ; of these the most important
are Jezirat-ibn-‘Omar, Rowanduz, and Suleiinaniyah. In Mosul, the
capital and market-town of the country, there is normally a considerable
floating population of Kurds.
Jezirat-ibn-'Omar is built on the Tigris, about 90 miles above Mosul,
on a low, gravelly island, from which it takes its name* ; it is, however,
only completely surrounded by water in the flood season. The surrounding
streams are crossed by ferries, except that a small wooden bridge, sup
ported on piers of masonry, spans the western branch of the river. The
town is shut in by bare hills on either side ; consequently, the climate in
(be summer is intensely hot and unhealthy. The water from the small
wells in the town is much polluted, and that from the river should be
filtered before use. The population is mainly Kurdish and the town is
surrounded by Kurds, chiefly of the Miran tribe; these tribes pasture
j their flocks and herds in the country west of the town during the winter
and spring; about June they assemble near the town and cross the river
here on their way to the summer pastures in the mountains, from which
they return in September. These Kurds rear flocks of sheep and are
visited yearly by sheep-dealers from Damascus. They are ruled by ‘Abd-
ul-Kerim Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , whose father, Mustafa Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , died before the war. The
town is the headquarters of a qazd in the Turkish administration.
Zakho lies about 30 miles east-south-east of Jezirat-ibn-‘Omar, and is
built on a rocky island in the Khabur Su, which is a mountain-torrent
above the town, but which spreads out below it over a broad bed of
shingle, 400 yards wide. The island is connected with the southern bank
by a bridge of stone, which is sometimes covered by the river in flood.
* Jezirah means “island” in Arabic.