'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' [‎103v] (211/312)

160
plank roadway 10 feet wide on top. It is in a very tumbled down condition.
The channel round the island is 150 yards wide, and contains several small
springs.
The houses in Jazirah are supplied from small wells, and the river water is
excellent for drinking after it has been filtered. It is comparatively cold from
the snows melting.
Good ice was obtainable, brought in by Kurds from the mountains.
The bazar was poor and straggling, crowded with Kurds from the moun
tain districts. Bundles of green grass were brought in daily on donkies from
the hills to the eastward. Good fruit is obtainable in autumn from the gardens
on the river bank down stream, and several vineyards were dotted about the low
hills overlooking the town from the west. Some 5 miles to the south-west
were encamped some 4,000 tents of Yezidi and Kurd nomads waiting to cross
the bridge with their cattle on the way to the mountains for the summer.
Most were nomad Yezidis from Jabal Sin jar.
The#e were also 1,500 tents on the right bank near the bridge and some
500 on this bank that had crossed. Immense flocks of sheep and goats and
some herds of cattle belonging to these tribes were scattered in all directions
on the hillsides.
I went through several of their camps; they complained of having to pay
a large toll at the bridge. It was 4| Stamboul piastres for each sheep, and
for one tribe that had 1,000 sheep this amounted to about 40 liras. A sheep
not above the average would bring in 3^ krans per annum as the price of
wool, cheese, &c., a good sheep perhaps 5 krans, and a bad one perhaps not
3 paras. They spent the summer on the hills south of lake Van and
Yastan, which they hoped to reach in 10 days going fast. An ordinary
caravan would take 15 days to Van. They talk nothing but Kermanju, or
one or two of the principal men Turkish or Arabic. They had to pay Ferhan
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , the Shaikh of the Shammar Tai Arabs, a regular contribution for the
right of pasturage. After paying this and the Government toll, they had
barely sufficient left for food. They sold their wool on their way through
here. About religion they were very vague. One tribe said they tvere all
Christians at one time, but professed to be Muhammadans now. They were a
lively, cheery people, and came in numbers to my tent, professing great friend
ship and respect for English people.
The Kireha and Muareschan were the two largest tribes among these
nomads.
Large numbers of camels could be collected here, as every day a drove of
from 800 to 500 passed by on this way from Mosul to Diarbekr.
There was a force of 200 Zaptiyahs in tents here used chiefly to defend the
district from Arab raids. They are well mounted on light, wiry Arab horses,
and armed with Martinis and Sniders.
The Shammar Tai under Ferhan Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. had large raiding parties out now,
and threaten Jazirah.
Mr. Agob or Jacob, a large Armenian merchant from Diarbekr, did
a large trade in wool here. Kurds were engaged all day long bringing
in wool from the districts round. This is the export season for wool,
and large rafts were loading for Baghdad. The wool from the Bohtan
and round Jazirah is particularly soft and fine. Mr. Agob's voluntary
subscription towards the war expenses in 1878 are said to have amounted to
£25,000.
Two rafts from Diarbekr passed down today with a tent on each carry
ing a Turkish official and his family.