THE COURDS OF KEIIMANSHAH. 
197 
I had stationed an hourly sentry over my property, every night 
during my sojourn amongst them. Sedak Beg always slept on an 
elevated bank in the open air, close to the great opening, or ve¬ 
randa kind of front belonging to the room I occupied; and he 
chose to place himself there, under an idea of being the most 
efficient watch over my person. But his rest in general was so 
profound, that both robbery and murder might have been com¬ 
mitted close to his ear, and he would not have been roused ; a proof 
of which was given a few nights before my departure. Scarce a dark 
hour had passed over our heads, without some of us perceiving cer¬ 
tain prowlers hovering about the bivouac of our cattle and men ; 
but on the night I speak of, they managed to creep, unheard, 
so close to Sedak’s couch, as to draw the only covering he had, 
off him ; it was an English blanket, therefore of particular value 
in his eyes. They also stole his slippers, and sundry other most 
essential parts of his dress. During all this, he heard no more 
than if a feather were stirring ; and so soundly did he sleep, thus 
almost naked in the cold air of the morning, that when I called 
him to rise, he started from his bank in a horror of astonishment 
at the situation in which he found himself. It was fortunate for 
the marauders that they performed their theft with such mar¬ 
vellous dexterity ; for that night I had a muleteer on guard, a 
native of Kazeroon, whose never-missing matchlock had already 
levelled several of their fraternity in other districts ; and had their 
easy spoil from the person of Sedak, tempted them to approach 
nearer to the baggage where my sentinel was placed, one, at least, 
of them would have paid dearly for their excursion. 
The fair sex of the Courdish race, are generally of a pale 
mahogany hue, with very fine features ; the nose usually aquiline, 
with eyes bright indeed as the antelope’s, and the whole coun- 
