AND SORANI TRIBE. 
451 
to be even alluded to in their presence. Transmigration is 
another of their superstitions ; and notwithstanding their indif¬ 
ference to human blood, they have the utmost dread of shedding 
that of an animal. No distinction of relationship is regarded in 
their marriages, the women being bought and sold in the most 
sordid traffick, between fathers and sons ; and even their funerals 
exhibit scenes of the most extravagant excesses ; in short, of all 
the lawless tribes I have ever heard of in the East, this appears 
the most detestable. Their dress is equally coarse and loathsome 
with their manners ; and the only distinction of their chief, is a 
black turban. They cut their shirts round at the top, for which 
peculiarity they assign this whimsical reason: “ It is a type of 
the circle of light that came from heaven, and settled round the 
neck of their devout caliph, when he was inspired with an inex¬ 
tinguishable hatred against all Turks and Christians.” 
The style of dress of the superior orders of Courds in Suli- 
mania is imposing and picturesque, being a judicious mixture 
of the Ottoman with the native habit. The chief characteristic 
which belongs to the latter is a sort of bag, of a red colour, 
worn on the head, either drawn up close to the skull, or hanging 
behind on the neck. A blue tassel is attached to its point, and 
a piece of silken stuff, striped with red, orange, or yellow, shot 
with silver or gold, is wound round the bag where it sits close 
to the top of the forehead of the wearer. This roll of tissue 
has long flowing ends, terminating in flossy variegated fringes ; 
they fall down on each side of the head, upon the shoulders. 
The body is covered with a tunic, or vest, in the fashion of 
the Turks, made of striped satin, or silk, buttoned tight at the 
neck, and reaching nearly to the ankles. It is confined at the 
waist by a scarlet belt of strong web manufactory, fastened by a 
3 m 2 
