'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' [‎132r] (268/312)

and partly Persian, and number some 1,500 tents. They are to he found on
either side of the border, and parties were heard of in the Zab valley near
Julamerk. They are the noted robbers in this part of the country, and are
constantly planning or carrying out some raid.
They can furnish 1,000 horsemen, and some of them took part in the looting
at Bayazid in the war of 1878-79.
Their chief is Ali Khan, now in prison at Tabriz, who has a son called
Ahmed Agha.
They are armed mostly with Martini-Peabody rifles, served out to them
in the Russo-Turkish war. Some were met in Baranduz armed with Werndl
and Chassepots, which they had got from the Persian Government, and a few
were armed with the spear.
They were well mounted, and doubtless with a proper organisation would
produce some good men for scouting and light cavalry work.
They are Sunni Musalmans of the Shafi sect like most Kurds, and are
very fanatical and bigoted against Christians.
Jierki .—These are a large nomad tribe numbering 2,000 tents or about
10,000 men. .
In the summer they pasture their flocks in Shamsdm and Gavvar, oeeasionT
allv coming over the Persian border into Mergavvar, Tergavvar, and Baradost.
In winter they descend into the Tigris plain round Mosul and the Bahdi-
nan district (see Kurds round Mosul).^
They also have a very bad reputation, and constantly pillage the country
in their annual migrations. I hey are Sunnis of the Shafi sect.
Oramar .—These area small sedentary tribe living in 22 villages m
Shamsdin. Some are nomads, who cross the Persian frontier into Mergavvar
and Tergavvar in the summer time. Shaikh Obeidulla, who raised the Kurdish
rebellion in 1880-81, was chief of this tribe, and reputed as a man of holy descent,
of the Nakushbendi sect of Sunnis. He lived at Neri in Shemisden. His son
is now chief of the tribe. „ i t ^
Karapapak .—These were originally a Turkish tribe of nomads who have set
tled now some 40 years in the villages of the Sulduz and Baranduz plain. hey
number some 8,000 families, and are Shiahs; consequently at constant ieud
with the Kurdish tribes on the frontier who are Sunnis. c c • tj i i
Milcri. —Inhabiting the country to the east and north-east of Su 3 Bu ak
in the direction of Miandab is the Kurdish tribe of Mikn, numbering 2,000
families. They are Sunnis and sedentary. . . . , ,
MenJcuri.—The large Kurdish tribe of Menkun live in the district to the
south of Suj Bulak, and number 5,000 families. They are Sunnis and
^Mam ash. —This tribe of Kurds numbers 3,000 families, and inhabits the
Lahijan district to the west and south-west of Suj Bulak. These are also Sunnis
and J«i e .—To’the north-west of Ushnu, among the high ranges of mountains,
are the Zezas, a Kurdish tribe numbering 1,000 tents. They are Sunnis, and
have an extremely bad reputation for pillaging travellers and caravans.
Raideranlu .—Are a large tribe on the frontier near Khoi.
Kurdish Rebellion of 1880-81.
The following precis will show the part taken hy these tribes in the
Kurdish rebellion of 1880-81 [Blue Book, Turkey, No.o, Ibtil):
In July 1880, Shaikh Obeidullah, the Chief of the Oramar Kurds, obtained
considerable power over the neighbouring tribes owing to his religious