"تقرير عسكري عن بلاد الرافدين (العراق)" [ظ‎‎٣‎٣] (٢٢٦/٧١)

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The Chechens (of Has al Ain).
About 1870, a band of 4,000 Circassian Moslem families,
after a protracted struggle with Russian troops,
emigrated under Shaikh Shamil, their chief, from
Vladikavkaz to Constantinople. The Turks, realizing
that the existence of such a community in their terri
tories might require considerable watching, decided to
split it up into sections. Accordingly they planted
Circassian colonies in Medina, Smyrna, Panderma,
Sivas, Bitlis and Ras al Ain. The present Chechens
under survey are the descendants of these emigrants.
The Chechens are wholly sedentary and engaged in
agriculture. They also possess large flocks, which, owing
to the scant grazing in the neighbourhood of Ras al Ain,
have to be driven into the Jazirah as far south as the
Jabal Abd al Aziz. Accurate figures are not available,
but it is estimated that they possess 10,000 sheep, 500
horses, and produce 300 tons of foodstuffs per annum.
The pastoral portion of the tribe moves to the Jabal
Abd al Aziz about October, and remains there till April.
Internal cohesion is good, but the settlement has
suffered much from external aggression. Their chief
enemies are the Milli Kurds, the Baggarah and Jubur
Arabs. The Turks are inclined to look on the Chechens
with favour, especially as they act as a buffer against
Milli outrages. During the war, Muhammad Fazil Pasha
Daghestani led 200 Chechen cavalry to Erzerum against
the Russians, doing well in the operations there.
The Chechens are excellent cavalry fighters. They are
armed with 300 modern Mauser rifles and 250 old but
serviceable weapons. Their principal source of supply is
from the Turkish military authorities, who have formed
a Chechen Cavalry Milice force under their chief, Timur
Bey.
Owing to their isolation and good treatment by the
Turks, the Chechens are thoroughly pro-Turk and anti-
Russian. There is no reason to believe they are animated
by anti-British sentiments.
The Chechens formerly were Christians, but are now
devout Sunni Moslems, and for this reason are inclined
to give their assistance and sympathy to the Turks in
any dispute between them and other Moslem states.
They speak Circassian amongst themselves, but the
majority is acquainted with Turkish and Arabic,