'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' [‎83r] (170/312)

This is a place of 1,000 houses with a population of about 5,000 ; the houses
are built of stone and cement similar to Alkosh. The inhabitants are a mixture
of New Chaldeans and Papal Chaldeans. The dress of the Christian women in
these villages is peculiar, and distinguishes them at once from those of other sects.
It consists of a blue skirt bound round the waist with a red girdle, ornamented
in front with silver buckles. A red cotton shawl is suspended over one shoulder
and hangs down in front like an apron.
A small red turban is wound round the head; the hair is plaited in long
tails, which reach to within a foot of the ground, where they end off in two or
three coloured tufts of wool. A string of coins, generally of silver, is
worn round the neck and forehead.
These Chaldeans area sturdy and very industrious race : these villages have
a far cleaner and more bustling appearance than Kurdish or Yezidi villages in
the same district. Most of the work of gathering the harvest and tending
the flocks is done by Yezidis, who have no objection to being servants to Chris
tians. At Alkosh Monastery all the outdoor servants were Yezidis. They
prefer a Christian to a Musalman master.
The water-supply here is from three wells, each about 6 feet diameter,
and containing water 20 feet below the surface. They are all slightly bitter,
and one was at present in use for the whole village for drinking purposes.^
Two small embankments were drawn across hollows in the undulations
to collect rain water. A little muddy water remained in one of these, which
was eagerly being scooped up for cooking purposes. Tea made from brackish
well water is not pleasant.
Uound the village were large heaps of corn in process of being threshed.
This is done in the usual Eastern fashion with a “chum,” which is a sort
of sledge with a roller having sharp iron teeth or prongs underneath. It is
driven round in a circle over the spread-out corn by three horses or donkeys.
Subsequently it is winnowed, and the grain separated from the chopped straw.
A preparation of wheat called “burrul” is common here, and is generally
found throughout Kurdistan : the grain is first boiled until it swells, and then
put out in the sun until quite dry and hard. It is then put under a large stone
roller about 6 feet in diameter which revolves in a sort of. trough. When the
outer husk of the grain is taken off by the roller it is again boiled and then
eaten. It has the appearance of rice, and tastes well.
The people complained much of the locusts, which had been bad now for
four successive years.
A good deal of the wheat being threshed had been cut green, and was only
good for straw; the grain being quite shrivelled. A small worm called “ Sin ”
or “Sun” which gets into the grain does much damage, eating all the
interior and leaving only the outer shell.
This is said to be a healthy place; the bitterness of the water has no evil
effects.
The priest complained of the withdrawal of the English Consul from Mosul :
they have to prefer their complaints now to the French Consul, whom
they say has no influence. They wished for the day when the English were
coming to take over the country. All they see of the Turkish Governmfent is
the periodical visit of the tax-gatherer, and they get no benefit in return.
Among other things they think Government ought to dig canals to give them
pure water from the Tigris.
These Christians are a very industrious, well-to-do people, and with a more
enlightened government would no doubt double or treble the area of land they
Kave now under cultivation.