'Reconnaissances in Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, North-West Persia, and Luristan from April to October 1888. By Lt F R Maunsell, Intelligence Branch. In Two Volumes. Volume I: narrative report, description of larger towns and routes leading from them. Simla: Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General's Dept, 1890' [‎96v] (197/312)

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IX. —A Yezidi, when he goes on a journey and remains away more
than a year, his wife is forbidden to him and he can obtain
no other on his return.
X. —The front of the Yezidis shirt which is a peculiar shape must be
sewn up by his foster brother.
XI.—All new clothes should be baptized in Shaikh Adi's water.
XII.—No blue colour must be worn on their clothes and no Musalman
razor or comb must touch the hair.
XIII. —No Yezidi can use Musalman cooking vessels or enter the ham-
mam.
XIV. —The meat of the gazelle is forbidden, also lettuce, pumpkins,
* bamias.
This petition was signed by—
Shaikh Hussain, head of the Yezidi community living at Badri.
Shaikh Nasi-; religious head of the Yezidis living at Hussain.
Pir Sulaiman, headman of Mamrash, a village between Dohuk and Alkosh.
Khojak Kaso of Khaberto, a village two hours south of Tel Eskof.
Nammo of Hosaran near Simel.
Murad of Musa Khan near the junction of the Zab and Tigris.
Abdo of Sina near Shaikh Adi. '
Ali of Bakusra on the Erbil road.
Ayuh of Hattara on the Zakho road.
Gurgo of Ansifani, one hour west of Shaikh Adi.
Jummo of Bashaikha, at the foot of Jahal Maklub.
Othman of Khanik, three hours north of Mosul on the Tigris.
Shaikh Hadr of Kasr Yezdin on the Tigris wes^ of Simel.
Elias of Khoshaba, east of Alkosh among the hills.
Hossain of Behan, three hours east of Mosul.
Taber of Khaberto near Badri.
Suffut of Gurraphan on the Zakho road.
Hassan of Dakhan, near Tal Ouskof.
As a result of this petition they were allowed to commute their religious
service on payment of a certain tax per head.
DisfriWi-nn Yezidis principally inhabit Jhe plain districts east
of Mosul and the hilly district of Jabal Sin jar to the
west.
The larger portion are sedentary, there are some tents of nomads, who
winter on the plains near Sinjar, and spend the summer on the hills south
and east of Lake Van.
These were met crossing the bridges at Mosul and Jazirah ; toll being
collected from them there. They paid a tribute also to the Shaikh of the
Shammar Tai Arabs near Sinjar for right of grazing. They had laro-e
numbers of sheep, goats and cattle.
In Sinjar those living in villages number some 20,000. They have
annual disputes and disturbances with the Turkish authorities, and troops
are usually required to pacify them.
The district is famous for its figs, which are brought into Mosul. Siniar
is 28 hours to the west of Mosul.
Yezidis lound Mosul are industrious cultivators irrigating small orchards
and gardens along the streams. They grow also crops of wheat and barley
on the plain without irrigation. Their villages are dotted all about the