'Military Report on Mesopotamia (Iraq)' [‎40v] (85/226)

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IIassinan.
The Hassinan claim to have been originally a Kurdish
tribe, in all probability a section of the Miran con
federation. There is, however, another tradition that
they formed originally part of the Hassinan or Rashqan
Yezidis. They are now thoroughly Arabicized, though
still speaking Northern Kurmanji.
Owing to his enmity with Naif Beg of the Miran, Haji
Abdul Aziz, the paramount chief of the Hassinan,
willingly accepted inclusion within the British sphere
of influence after the armistice. He is said to have gone
under compulsion to Tel Afar during the disturbances,
but this is doubtful. Throughout the difficult times
following the re-occupation of Tel Afar he loyally
assisted the Government and did much to prevent raideis
crossing the river. Along with Sulaiman Agha of the
Girgiriyah he has made himself responsible for the
northern frontier from Shaikhuba to the Nisibin-Mosul
road. The tribe is placed in a difficult position
geographically, but there seems little doubt that so long
as the feud with the Miran continues it will remain pro-
British. A further inducement to this end is the
possession of estates by Haji Abdul Aziz in the Dohuk
area.
The Hassinan are settled cultivators in the north-easi,
corner of the Nahiyah of Zummar. A few tribal villages
also exist in Turkish territory north of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
Suwaidiyah. The produce of Hassinan villages is about
200 tons of wheat and barley annually, while they possess
about 10,000 head of sheep. The chief supply centre of
the tribe is Mosul, but rice, fruit, tobacco, wood, etc., are
also got from Zakho and Amadia districts.
Supreme control of the tribe is vested in Haji Abdul
Aziz, who resides at Shaikhuba. The chief is a quiet,
capable man, who seems to have a grievance, hut is loyal
and willing to help the Government. His chief enemy
is Naif Beg of the Miran, whose father, Mustafa Agha,
ousted Abdul Aziz’s father from his territories. Yusuf
Agha, the brother of the chief, is also a capable leader
and loyal. In recent times a great friendship has sprung
up between Sulaiman Agha of the Girgirivah and Haji
Abdul Aziz.
The Hassinan possess very considerable fighting
ability, and are continually trying to raid Miran villages.
Though numerically less than their enemies, the Hassinan
have contrived to carry off the larger spoils. The tribe