468 
DRESS OF COURDISH WOMEN. 
and about Sulimania. A large red turban, bulging out at the 
sides, over the ears, is the usual coiffure. It terminates at the 
top in a point, and is fastened under the chin by a strap covered 
with silver plates. From its swelling sides diverge two red 
ribbons, tasselled with silver, gilt, or brass balls, and nearly 
touching the shoulders. The point of the turban has its appen¬ 
dage also, in the form of a long piece of drapery flowing behind, 
or occasionally brought forward to act as a veil or chadre. 
Necklaces of glass, or coloured beads, surrounded the neck in 
endless rows. I saw some women at Baytoush with nothing more 
on their heads than the flowing veil, bound round their fore¬ 
heads with a simple red band; but all wore the plaited chin 
strap. The females thus dressed seemed of the inferior order, 
being habited in coarse linen vestures and trowsers of a dingy 
white, and fastened round the waist with a fold of red linen. I 
have described the costume of the men in a former page, the 
same fashion prevailing to a certain resemblance amongst all the 
Courdish tribes. Their manners too, have a similar stamp of 
original brotherhood, though the high mountain tracks certainly 
shew the most wildness in their independence. The men, (some¬ 
thing in the style of the poor in Ireland, of the old Milesian 
stock,) individually cultivate just as much ground as each thinks 
will suffice the wants of his family, and not an inch more. 
There are a few exceptions to this rule; but the majority having 
ploughed and sown, live the rest of the time in proud careless¬ 
ness, ranging the mountains in pursuit of game, and, not seldom, 
of plunder. In times of war, or inroad, they are bound to 
attend their chief; and if called upon by the neighbouring state 
to which their tribes are attached bv treaty or custom, they 
must be ready to follow him to that field also. 
