!['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' [‎96r] (196/312)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000912.0x00004d/IOR_L_PS_20_144_0214.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "'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' [‎96r] (196/312)")
'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' [96r] (196/312)
The record is made up of 1 volume (152 folios). It was created in 1890. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
These grades were introduced in Shaikh Adi’s time and on feast days there
are separate dresses for each. They perform their own special work and no
other. The idol cock, said to he the image of Malik Taus, is brought round
at all festivals. Each family or Shaikh has its own Shijarrat-al-nasib or pedi
gree book.
They recognize in various forms most of the early 13ible traditions. And.
believe the Earth is ruled by Malik Taus, whom they regard as a fallen angel
and representative of the principle of evil. They recognize that good
men are under God’s special protection while evil men are under that of
Malik Taus.
They believe in the eventual restoration of Malik Taus and think that by
propitiating him now in his fallen capacity they will eventually be partners
in his restoration.
Drunkenness, prostitution, and vice are more common among them than
their neighbours and this may in a great measure be traced to the idea of pro-
pitiating°t.he principle of evil": the name of Shaitan, or even any word in Arabic
or Turkish bearing a resemblance to it, is never mentioned, and it is the duty of
Yezidi on hearing anyone mentioning Shaitan to either kill him or kill
himself. , .
All drinking vessels and jars are made with a wide neck so that they will not
gurgle. The principle of good requires no propitiating; and Malik Taus is more
worshipped than God. With the restoration of Malik Taus the Yezidi nation
will again be restored to power, and Shaikh Adi will revisit the earth.
They believe in the transmigration of souls; those of good men into other
good men; and those of bad men into lower animals, dogs, pigs, &c. This
lasts for only a certain period, after which souls are translated to heaven.
Yezidis are not polygamous, but marriage ties are easily broken. If a man s
wife is barren or commits adultery, he can simply put her away and take
another. Their code of morality is very low.
They have a greater affinity for Christians than Musalmans; many of
them are servants doing field work at Alkosh and Talkaif for Christians.
Yezidis are extremely averse to serving as soldiers under an Ottoman Govern
ment.
The following is the petition which they presented against military
service about fifteen years ago, setting forth the various reasons why they
could not serve; it also shows many of their curious customs :
I.—Our religion enjoins that every Yezidi must see Malik Taus (pea
cock like image) three times a year and worship it.
II.—Every Yezidi must go to Shaikh Adi once a year generally
about September 15th to 2.0th for the festival there.
HI.—At sunrise every morning a Yezidi must kiss the spot where the
sun’s rays first strike the ground and must not do so inthe
presence of a Christian or Musalman.
IV.—Each Yezidi has a foster brother whose hand he is bound to kiss
every morning.
V.—During the Musalman prayers a Yezidi cannot hear the word
“ Shaitan ” used, as he must either kill the person uttering it
or himself.
VI.—On a Yezidi dying, the pir and his foster brother must be with
him so as to see that he dies professing the Yezidi faith.
VII.—A little of the sacred earth from Shaikh Adi must be eaten every
morning and must be placed in his grave.
VIII.—Every Yezidi must keep feast days in his own village.
About this item
- Content
Narrative report on surveys conducted in Mesopotamia [Iraq], North-West Persia [Iran] and Luristan [Lorestān]. The preface provides the following information:
'The object was to explore various tracts of little known country through which roads lead north from the head of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to the Waliat of Van and North-West Persia near Urmia. To accomplish this, two routes through Luristan from the Tigris valley were travelled. In southern Kurdistan the roads from Kifri to Sulaimaniah, from there to Rawanduz, and Rawanduz to Amadiyeh, were gone over in Turkey, and Suj-Bulak to Karmanshah through Sakiz and Sihna in Persia. The country south of lake Van to Mosul was traversed in the routes Amadiyeh to Mosul, Mosul to Jazirah, Jazirah to Bashkala, Bashkala to Urmia, and Urmia to Suj Bulak through Ushnu.'
The report contains the following illustrations:
- Tak-i-Girra, looking east (f 42).
- Sketch showing the Town of Rawanduz [Rāwāndūz], (f 63).
- Sketch showing the bridge at Rawanduz. (f 66).
- Sketch showing Amadiyeh [Al 'Amādīyah] from the north-east, (f 76).
- Sketch showing the bridge of Mosul (f 85).
The report contains the following maps:
- Pass of Tak-i-Girra, on the Baghdad-Kermanshah Route, December 1889 (f 41).
- Country in vicinity of Rawanduz, May 1889 (f 64).
- Plateau of Amadiyeh and surrounding country, June 1888 (f 74).
- Plan of Mosul and surrounding country, corrected from Jones' survey, August 1889, (f 87).
- Country between Feishkhabur [Fīsh Khābūr] and Zakho, June 1888, (f 101).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (152 folios)
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 154; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'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' [96r] (196/312), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/144, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100035451478.0x0000c5> [accessed 26 March 2025]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/20/144
- Title
- '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'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:40v, 42r:63v, 65r:73v, 75r:85r, 85r, 86r:86v, 88r:100v, 102r:153v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence