'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' [‎91v] (187/312)

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A Bishop is called “ abuna ” or father, priest “ kishish ” and a deacon
“ Shamasha/ ,
In every village the elders, or whitebeards as they are called, form a sort
Village Councils. °? council > which discusses the temporal affairs of the
village, and no step of importance is taken by bishops
or priests without calling them together.
Maliks> Then, again, the “ maliks,” or village chiefs, appointed
by Mar Shimun have a considerable influence. These
in the mountains manage the temporal affairs of a district.
There are one in Diz, one in Baz, two in Jelu, two in Tchob, one in Walto,
two in Tiari Proper.
Some villages have chiefs named “ Raisi ” for the same purpose.
These mountain or tribal Nestorians are wild and savage : schools are prac
tically unknown, and missionaries find them difficult to establish : they have
good intelligence, but it is undeveloped : they are subject to little discipline,
each man being his own master.
They practise none of the rough arts, except a little smithing and weaving.
Theoretically they pay tribute to the Turkish Government, but have done
so very irregularly and are usually classed as “ Ashiret,” or refusing to pay
taxes.
They pay taxes in kind, honey, flour, &c., to Mar Shimun, and are
supposed to pay a poll-tax of 3 piastres each, but this is seldom done.
The liturgy in use in the Nestorian Churches is perhaps the oldest
in Christendom—a fact of which they are justly proud. Baptism, the
Holy Communion (Kourbana or offering) and Church Consecration ser
vice are administered in the same manner as in English churches. And
in the midst of all their poverty and ignorance it is astonishing to find
services so impressive and so devoutly rendered. This is clearly their brightest
jewel, and its preservation leads us to the hope that this Church has indeed
a great future before it.
I he churches on the outside are plain buildings being merely a square
stone or brick building, or even only built of mud with a flat roof. No
cross appears on the roof to offend the Musalman eye, and the only
sign of Christianity about the outside of the building is a very little cross
over the door, which is devoutly kissed by those who enter. The only means
of entrance is a little door on the south side, often not more than three feet
high. These small doors are sometimes at a eonsidei’able height from the ground
and can only be approached by a ladder. The reason of the smallness of the
doors is said to be either that all may bow their heads on entering God^s house,
or that Musalmans may not put their cattle into the Church. The latter is
probably the true reason.
The churches are usually dedicated to Syrian Bishops and Monks. Mart
Miriam (St. Mary) is the commonest of all dedications. Of other dedications
Mar Girgis (St. George), Mar Shalita, Mar Serghis, Mar Audiahu, Mar
Sorishu, Mar Mari and Mar Adar may be mentioned.
The Nestorians delight in pictures of St. George and the Dragon, but no
pictures, whether of our Saviour or of the Saints, are allowed in the Churches.
The fasts and festivals of the Nestorians, like those of other Orientals,
Fasts and Festivals. ? aft on ^y described as prodigious. Those prescribed
ik the books are so long that no one, except perhaps
one or two monks, keep them all.
All, however, who wish to be accounted members of the old Church keep
the gieat fast of fifty days (our Lent), the little fast of twenty-five days (our