"استطلاعات في بلاد الرافدين وكردستان وشمال غرب بلاد فارس ولرستان في الفترة من أبريل إلى أكتوبر ١٨٨٨، كتبها المقدم ف. ر. مونسيل، فرع الاستخبارات. يوجد مجلدان. المجلد الأول: تقرير سردي ووصف للمدن الكبرى والطرق المؤدية منها. شيملا: فرع الاستخبارات، إدارة قائد الإمداد والتموين، ١٨٩٠" [ظ‎‎١‎٠‎٧] (٣١٢/٢١٩)

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up to the semi-independent tribes of Haikkiari and Dersim, who only pay
taxes when the Turkish troops occupy their country, and only on rare occasions
supply soldiers, either regular or irregular, to the Government.
r lhe nomad tribes are taxed at so much each head of sheep and cattle when
they cross the Tigris to go to the hills.
A great number oi Kurds are armed with Martini Peabody or Win
chester repeating rides served out, but not returned after the war of 1878.
The mountain tribes are still armed with old flintlocks.
The spear as a weapon has entirely given way to the rifle, and is seldom
seen. The Kurds are fair shots, usually tiring from horseback, but are not
such marksmen as the Bakhtiari Lurs.
A curved scimitar with a silver hilt and mountings slung close under
the left arm, and a long dagger in the belt, complete the Kurdish warrior's
equipment.
Powder and bullets are manufactured in the Hakkiari Mountains from the
sulphur and lead mines there.
1 he qualities which distinguish the Kurdish cavalry are great agility and
suppleness, together with great power of enduring hardships and fatigue.
The only evolution they know is skirmishing, the attack being made in
disorderly masses. In the beginning of an action they endeavourto extend
themselves in a line in order to avoid being outflanked; but this line is so
i'tegular that in some parts it is only a single rank, while in others it is three,
four, or even ten deep. They do not employ a second line.
They know, however, the way of employing reserves. In marehino- order
they go just as they please without any regularity.
When marching or encamped, they know well how to guard themselves
against surprise. Pew scouts and vedettes can reconnoitre the ground so
thoroughly as the Kurds are capable of doing.
I he Kurds have no particular breed of horses, hut obtain an extremely
useful animal, a cross between the heavy and large boned Turkman horse
and light wiry Arabs from the Tigris plain.
In their annual migrations to the plains they either steal or buy a con
siderable number of Arabs.
Mules are bred in considerable numbers in Kakkiari. These and small black
oxen are chiefly used as beasts of burden, horses being only used for riding.
Education among the Kurds is at a very low ebb. The chiefs have one
or two writers as a rule, and are able to read and write their lancniau'e.
Kennanji is not wntten. Arabic and lurkish with a little Persian are the
written languages.
The language of the ivurds is known generally as Kermanji, containing
a great number of dialects and words from the Persian and Arabic.
The Kurds round Sulaimaniab, for instance, speak a different dialect, and
would not be understood by those in Hakkiari or Dersim.
The Km dish men are of fine physique, but are slow in their movements.
They are tail, handsome, strongly built men as a rule, but with a sullen savao'e-
looking cast of countenance, and with a certain fondness for military display
and gorgeous dresses. J J
A dark complexion with piercing black eyes and black hair is usually seen,
but light hair and blue eyes are not uncommon.
Their fierce, haughty expression distinguishes them easily from their
Ghnstian neighbour.
The women seem more intelligent than the Turkish women, perhaps owing
to their greater liberty. They do not veil, except in chief's families; they pray