'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' [‎106v] (217/312)

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not po wealthy, nor so independent, nor do they stand nearly so high in popu
lar estimation.
The Kurds generally bear a very indifferent reputation—a worse reputation,
Character. perhaps, than they really deserve. Being aliens to the
Turks in language and to the Persians in religion, they
are everywhere treated with mistrust, and live as it were in a state of chronic
warfare with the Government.
The Turkish officials treat the Kurds as boorish and ignorant, and quite a
lower scale of humanity.
both the tribal nomads and the sedentary Kurds are taxed in the most
inequitable and extortionate manner,—the former on the sheep and cattle, and
the latter on their lands and goods,—and are looked upon as fair game to satis
fy the rapacity of Kaimmakams and the lower grades of Turkish officials.
These officials are constantly changed from one place to another. Conse
quently they think nothing about instituting any improvlement in the condi
tion of the country or the people, but rather of how quicky they can fill their
pockets with money extracted from crushed and miserable villagers, or when
they can collect sufficient money either to buy themselves into a higher place,
or retire and spend the remainder of their days in a life of ease and luxury.
Some 60 or 40 years ago almost the whole of Kurdistan was ruled by
Kurdish Begs, who only acknowledged a general suzerainty of the Ottoman
Government. Little by little the power of these Begs has been undermined and
destroyed, and replaced in almost every instance by the ordinary routine of
Turkish officialdom.
The principal exception is the semi-independent district on the Hakkiar
Mountains occupied by the Hartoshi Kurds under Muhammad Agha of Sher-
nakh (Route XI).
I he rule of the once powerful Begs of Julamerk, Bashkala, Rawanduz,
and Sulaimaniah has now entirely passed away, and the comparative ease with
which the lurks deal with any rising among the Kurds is due to their
takin^ advantage of internecine quarrels between tribes and inability to
combine together in sufficient numbers from jealousy of their leaders and
factions among their followers.
. Kurds are very ignorant and consequently bigoted, and their religious
animosity is-heightened by constant quarrels with the large Christian popu
lation who live among them.
To elevate these at the expense of the Musalman, or to form an autonomous
Christian province to the exclusion of the Kurds, would be the sure means of
rousing the Kurds to form such a league as no mere political aim of their
leaders would excite.
. 1 bus the question of emancipating the Christian population or countenanc
ing the aims of the Armenian people as “a nation rightly strugglino* to be
free has to be very cautiously approached.
The constant drain of Turkish rule on Kurdistan and Russian intrigue
threatens to bring this question forward for solution.
The experience gained in dealing in India with portions of the community
hostile to each other as regards religion could be utilised here, and Kurd and
Chnstoan induced to live in harmony under a strong and just Government.
The Kurds themselves have very friendly feelings towards English people.
I he educated people that I met had a strong sense of the justice and firmness
ol Lngush rule and the manner in which the Mussulman population of India
is treated. Questions were always asked on this subject. To win over this
hue race of soldiers to our side may be necessary at some future time.