'Military Report on Mesopotamia (Iraq)' [‎37v] (79/226)

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Girgiriyah.
According to one dubious tradition the Girgiriyah
Kurds were originally of Arab descent, but the tribe
itself asserts its purely Kurdish ancestry. The grand
father of the present paramount chief, Sulaiman Agha,
is supposed to have brought the tribe from Sulaimani
about 100 years ago. Whatever their past history, the
Girgiriyah now exist as tent-dwelling agriculturists
beyond the true limits of Kurdistan; Arab in mode of
life and dress, but Kurdish in speech and tradition.
Before the outbreak of the war the Girgiriyah played
no conspicuous part in desert politics. During the war
their looting activities were curtailed by a German
supply company which was established at Hogena, the
headquarters of Sulaiman Agha. After the British
occupation of Mosul and the establishment of British
administration in Tel Afar district, the Girgiriyah
showed themselves very well disposed towards the
British. In June, 1920, however, probably forced by
circumstances, the tribe threw in its lot with Jamil Beg
and the Sharifian force, which attacked Tel Afar. It
was in the camp of Sulaiman Agha that the attempt
was made to capture the late Major Barlow, D.S.O.,
M.C., Political Officer of Tel Afar, and there seems no
doubt that, though Sulaiman Agha did his best to warn
Major Barlow of his danger in the last extreme, he could
probably have saved the Political Officer’s life, and, by
making a stand, prevented the fall of Tel Afar. After
the punitive expedition to that town the Girgiriyah fled
beyond our frontier, but the larger portion soon made
submission; Sulaiman Agha was allowed to return to
his habitat, but exhibited no great anxiety to pay his
fine. Eventually, when he saw that the Turks, with
whom he was in correspondence, were unable and un
likely to try their strength against the British
authorities, he paid up his dues reluctantly. A portion
of the tribe remained as outlaws in the Suwaidiyah
under Haji Abdul Qadir, the cousin of Sulaiman Agha
and the most important chief of the tribe after him.
In 1921 Sulaiman Agha was made responsible for the
keeping of the Hogena Gate, and successfully prevented
the inroads of Bilaibil and his robbers into our terri
tories. Sulaiman’s attitude to the Arab Government is
non-committal. He is prepared to support it provided
the British exercise a controlling power in its activities,
but it seems certain that, from his geographical position