'Military Report on Mesopotamia (Iraq)' [‎38r] (80/226)

on the Mosul-Nisibin road, any Turkish effort against a
weak Arab Government would have his support.
The Girgiriyah are semi-nomadic within the confines
of the tribal habitat, i.e., they cultivate their villages
at the appropriate season and follow grazing with their
flocks. A list of Girgiriyah villages is given at the end
of this note. The Girgiriyah country is well watered,
and the tribe produces annually about 500 tons of wheat
and barley. It also possesses about 10,000 sheep and 200
mules and plough cattle. Supplies are obtained mostly
from Mosul and partially from Nisibin and Jazirah ibn
Omar. Tribal parties also make their way to the
Kurdish hills above Dohuk, whence they bring back
tobacco, wood, and fruit.
The Girgiriyah before the Tel Afar outbreak were
under the supreme control of Sulaiman Agha, but since
he made submission a portion has been inclined to
favour Haji Abdul Qadir—more in f$ar than with good
will. It is not likely that Haji Abdul Qadir will be a
serious rival of the present chief.
Externally the Girgiriyah, though not at feud with the
Shammar, pay the latter no tribute, and would probably
support a force operating against them. Sulaiman Agha
lives in friendly relationship with Haji Abdul Aziz of
the Hassinan and with the people of Tel Afar, Jubur and
Juhaish. Formerly a great friend of Haji Naif Beg, of
the Miran, Sulaiman Agha quarrelled wfith the latter in
1921 over the price of a mare.
The Girgiriyah are good fighters and in an attempt to
rout out the Bilaibil nest of robbers displayed consider
able elan and bravery. They possess about 60 modern
and 200 old but serviceable rifles—mostly German and
Turkish Mausers. Since Sulaiman Agha submitted to
Government he has been unable to acquire rifles from
the Turks, who were his chief source of supply. In case
of hostility to the British the most likely centre of rifle
and ammunition supply would be Jazirah ibn Omar. A
proportion of rifles also comes from the Syrian desert
via the Tai and Jubur of the Khabur.
The tribe, being in close proximity to the Turkish
frontier and Sunni by persuasion, is liable to Turkish
intrigues. During 1920-1921 considerable interest was
taken in Sulaiman Agha by the Turkish military
authorities, chiefly because the tribal habitat lies across
the main highway between Nisibin and Mosul.
The Girgiriyah speak Northern Kurmanii, but many
of the tribesmen are able to converse in both Arabic and
Turkish.