'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎125] (178/905)

CHAP. VI.]
BOWS AND SLINGS.
125
in a stout double bag, made of thick woollen cloth. The
horses, which are very fine, are reserved exclusively for riding.
The people of this country call themselves Kermanj, 1 the Manners ami
European name being unknown. 2 Almost every Kurd, or of the
Kerad (speech), is mounted, and armed generally with a gun
and sabre; but higher up in the mountains he is to be seen pro
tected by stout leggings, clad in loose robes, with a showy vest
beneath; on his head is a gay-striped turban, hanging loose
in a fanciful manner on one side, and he is mounted on a
spirited horse. Occasionally he is provided, as in ancient times,
either with javelins about three feet nine inches long, which
he hurls at his enemy with great dexterity, or else with a
bow made of horn, nearly six feet long, and slung at his side
ready for use, with a supply of arrows in a leather quiver at
his back. The bow resembles that of the Turcomans, and is
much more effective than that which is in use amongst the
Beels 3 in India.
The arrow of the Kurd is, apparently, what it was when
Xenophon crossed the Centrites:—" Sometimes, also, the
barbarians, after the Greeks had ascended, gave them great
disturbance in their descent, for they were very nimble; and,
though they came near to our men, yet still they got off,
having no other incumbrance than their bows and slings.
They were very skilful archers; their bows were nearly three bows and
cubits in length, and their arrows above two. When they ari ' ows "
discharged their arrows, they drew the string by pressing
upon the lower part of the bow with their left foot. These
arrows pierced through the shields and corslets of our men,
who, taking them up, made use of them instead of darts, by
fixing thongs to them. This day they staid in the villages
situated above the plain that extends to the river Centrites." 4
In addition to the javelin and bow, the sling 5 mentioned by
1 Aper^u, &c., Tome III., p. 28'7.
a Ainsworth's Visit to the Chaldeans.—Vol. XI. Part I., p. 21, of the
Royal Geographical Journal.
8 The Beel is expert in the sudden use of his bow when close to an enemy;
but, at a short distance from the object, I found him a bad marksman.
4 Xenophon's Expedition of Cyrus, book IV., p. 239.
5 We often saw slings in use amongst the Arabs. The long bow of horn