450 
COURDS OF SULIMANIA, 
we see these degrading resources gradually imprinted on their 
countenances. The eyes of the natives of Sulimania are fine and 
dark, of a grave and thoughtful expression ; and their whole 
demeanour answers to the same description. The current faith 
of this district, in common with that of every one within the 
pale of Constantinople, is Mahomedan, of the Sunni, or orthodox 
creed; but I believe that every sect of the prophet, besides a cer¬ 
tain number of Jews and Christians, are scattered throughout the 
whole country that bears the name of Courdistan. The differing 
creeds of some of the Mahomedan sects act as distinguishingly 
upon the characters of their professors; and one of the most 
ferocious is that embraced by the Sorani tribe, who call them¬ 
selves Yezedi, after a caliph of Damascus of that name. They 
inhabit the mountains of Sindjar, a country to the north-west of 
Bilbos. They are the greatest robbers of all the Courdish tribes; 
it being their almost invincible hordes which beset and pillage, 
and too often entirely cut off, the caravans which pass towards 
Merdin. One point of their belief is, to hold the killing of a 
Turk, Persian, Jew, or Christian, as meritorious acts in the sight 
of God. If any of their families happen to be afflicted by illness 
or calamity, they think to propitiate Heaven by making a vow to 
go out and murder the first person of any one of these infidel 
persuasions (for so they denominate them all) whom they may 
chance to meet. They have no place for public or private de¬ 
votion, considering that prayer is utterly useless ; and being 
consequently divested of that principle of hope under distress, 
which so greatly tends to assuage and humanize character, 
the fury of their desperation in calamity is tremendous; and 
believing that the devil is equal in power to God, and more 
active, they hold him in such dread as never to allow his name 
