'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎552] (615/714)

552
PERSIA
Of the life and character of the Kurds, it would appear from
the apoplectic sputterings of some newspapers that a prejudiced
Occupation ^ errone on8 impression prevails. They are commonly
character T " ^ w"T' tll0Ugh Were a11
all robbers, and, for the most part, monsters of iniquity.
Ihe impeachment against the evil-doers amongst them is quite
sufficiently strong without including the innocent in the attainder
By far the greater part of the Persian Kurds are sedentary and
pastoral. A great many of them farm and till the ground on the
plains and hill-slopes; an even larger number keep herds of sheep
goats and cattle, from which they make excellent cheese and butter •
and the extent of their nomadic habits is in most cases that in the
summer months they move into camps on the higher acclivities
above the settled villages which they inhabit in the winter'
Nomad Kurds are to be found particularly in Turkish territorv
and on the border; and perhaps the wealthiest and most indepen
dent of the tribes belong to this class, the cultivators of the soil
and shepherds being, as a rule, deplorably ignorant and poor. As
regards their character, every variety may be found in their
midst, from the typical robber chieftain to the harmless peasant
and from the dashing warrior to the miserable thrall. Those who
now them best, deny that they are naturally either cruel or
fanatical, and credit them with a rude hospitality and high courage
When excited however, they are as ugly customers as can be
encountered. Their position amid hostile and craven communities
whose religions they abhor, and in territories whose governments
they abominate, tempts them to anarchy and turbulence. Ruled
y a strong but just hand, there is no reason why they should not
become an orderly community, very useful for purposes of warfare,
instead of a, bogey to frighten the missionaries and scarify the
rea ers o tie Daily News.' At the present time they are not,
t f. ri | * ate ln ^ mnc h avail for military purposes, being
addicted to plunder and impatient of restraint. In the Russo-
ur is War they are said to have done more harm than good.
. ® lsian Kuids, who are more civilised, several regiments
are raised for the Persian army; one of which, from the Guran
is net, was for two years, 1834-6, commanded by Sir Henry
aw mson, when m the service of Mohammed Shah. Down to
ie present century, the Kurdish cavalry were in many parts clad
chain armour, m which, together with their long lances and