'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.' [‎122] (155/450)

12*2
TAI ARABS.
[CH. XVII.
the Mahometans "The Accursed." In like manner
I have frequently heard the natives of the east
abuse each other by the epithets, " Race of Pharaoh
—People of Lot—Sect of Nimrod."
There is a branch of the Tai Arabs called Haba-
bat, who more than a century ago, on some quarrel
with the rest of the tribe, seceded to Sinjar. Their
children became Yezids, and the race are now per
fect Devil-worshippers t speaking the language oi the
Yezids, and in noways distinguishable ironi them.
February 25.—My obliging friend Hajee Jirjees
came again this evening with more information,
which he had collected at my request. I set down
the principal articles of it, as follows :—
There are two Tirehs, or families of the Tai Arabs,
indubitably descended from the famous Hatem, called
the Sumbees and A1 Hareeth. The Bey ot the Tais
was formerly a sanjiak of the Porte, and the Sheikh
or Bey used to go to Constantinople to receive his
investiture : he was of the descendants of Hatem.
One of them was put to death at Constantinople
on account of an intrigue with one of the women
of the house where he lodged, about which a
long and stupid story is told. After him no one
went for some time, and there was an interregnum
jn the tribe. At last a young man of the name of
Eshgeer was sent. He was a yeteem or protege ot
the Hatem family. He succeeded well at Constanti
nople, and received the investiture. The chiels thus