'Narrative of a Residence in Koordistan, and on the Site of Ancient Nineveh; with Journal of a Voyage down the Tigris to Bagdad and an Account of a Visit to Shirauz and Persepolis.' [‎100] (131/450)

100
CHALDEAN PEASANTS. [ciI. XVI.
the world, with its business and its cares. A great
crowd of Chaldean peasants, from the neighbouiing
town of Alkosh, had assembled at the mouth of the
defile to stare at us. They were not used to see a
Christian with marks ot rank and authority ; and I
think they seemed rather proud ol the sii>lit. I 1k3
people of Alkosh are a very stout, independent set,
and can muster about four hundred musketeers.
They half esteem themselves Kermanj, as Hussein
Aga told me. I find that name of the family of the
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Sulimania signifies any Koord hereabouts.
We steered right for the artificial mount, Gir-
ghiaour, over a plain, and reached it at a quarter
after twelve, when we followed the gentle inclination
of the hills, whose commencement it marks. We
soon after alighted at the Yezid village of Sherabi,
in order to let the baggage get on before us, and
mounted again at one. At a little stream which
rises at Sherabi, and finds its way through the hills,
we observed some Yezid women washing; and one
of them very unceremoniously divested herself ot her
last garment to perform her ablutions more at ease.
We followed the little stream through the opening it
has made; the inclination of the lexcl being onlj
marked by its course. In the latter part of the hills
I observed gypsum in plenty, the north-east side
being mere sandstone. Emerging from the hills at
about two miles from the Chaldean village ol ie
liskof, we entered on a very level plain ; and at three