"تقرير عن كردستان" [و‎‎١‎٧] (٢٢٠/٣٨)

Tb* 1 'ollowing are sometimes mentioned as districts :—Ramisht part of Amir-
abad, Paveh and Ruvansar part of Javanrud, Chaharduli which is not part of the
province of Kurdistan, and the two sub-districts of Cham-i-Kamereh and Sarshiu.
DISTRICTS OF KURDISTAN.
Baneh.
The district of Baneh is 24 farsakhs to the north-west of Senna. To the
west it touches Sauj Bulagh Mukri, to the south
Baneh (District). Turkey, to the east Merivan, and to the north
Sakiz.
It is sub-divided into smaller divisions and is usually governed by members
of the same family, chosen, however, by i he Persian Governor of Kurdistan. The
population consists of hill people and nomad trib s, wild and un-uly, and all
Sunnis.
In 1878 the population was 32,240 souls and the Asl Maliat 5,600 Tumans.
The following is a good example of the law'essness of the inhabitants and
also of their courage. On the 18th of Zilhajeh 1308(1891) Yunis Khan, Governor
of Baneh, invited his uncle Haji Mustapha and his family, and m urdered him
together with one of his sons; his second son, Abdullah Beg, a lad of 15,
although wounded, attacked Yunis Khan, knocked him down with his khan jar, and
killed six of his men before being himself despatched by Yunis Khan’s people.
According to native information Baneh has one large village or small town
and 200 villages
“Ad scription of one of these vi’lages will suffice, for all exist under the
same conditions, and are alike undefended. The inhabited portion of the vil ages
is commonly a mere kernel, enclosed in a mass of v neyards and o chards. Each
house forms a portion of a small block, divided off by narrow, ill-paved lanes,
never as much as 20 feet broad, and often less than ten feet; each has a central
court or ya d, a high wall and strong gate facing the lane, and 1 igh walls on the
othe- thre sides ; beyond the court is usually a small patch of garden. Of the better
class of houses a large proportion are two-storied, with upper windows looking on
to the lane. The walls of all are built of very hard mud. With a double story the
elevation is about 20 feet; the lower walls 3 feet thick, upper 2 feet; the roof flat
with 6 beams of poplar, varying in length from 10 to 15 feet, covered with a thin
layer of mud. A parapet wall of mud, bulletproof, runs round each roof. Such
buildings would afford no protection against shot, but would be difficult to fire.
Bazaar shops cover less ground. The vineyards or orchards or (locally) gardens
extend for more than a mile round the larger villages, being thickest on the line
of irrigation.
They cover from 2 to about 10 acres of ground, are thinly planted, and en-
c'osed by solid mud walls, of 12 to 15 feet high, with a single small gate. Narrow
lanes and watercourses wind through and about them, affording very indifferent
communications. Though the height of the ga-den walls and the thinness of the
cover within them detract from their defensive value, they might, with some little
labour, be converted into an excellent screen very difficult to penetrate in the
face of even undisciplined opposition.
The tract about Baneh and between it and Maragheh is fairly supplied with forage.
Fuel is plentiful and water easily procured. Carriage in any quantity is not
to be found. There are no large droves of camels and but few mules.”
The greater part of this district is mountainous and covered with forest*.