488 
COURDISH ANCIENT ARMOUR. 
means of a screw. A spike projected from the crown ; and two 
small tubes started just over the forehead, for carrying herons’ or 
peacocks’ feathers. This plumage is not mere ornament; it 
distinguishes the martial character of the wearer, a new feather 
being added to the crest for every fresh enemy who has fallen 
by his sword. Hence comes a saying in Courdistan, “ Ah ! 
your courage has not yet given your helmet wherewithal to 
keep your head from the burning sun !” We have something 
like the idea, when we talk of any enterprising action being “ a 
feather in a man’s cap !” The back of the neck and the ears, 
in this old Courdish helmet, were protected by mail attached 
to it, which fell as low as the shoulders and breast; a narrow 
shawl, or bandeau, was wrapped round the cap, at the brows. 
The person that appeared before me was equipped with the full 
complement of sword, dagger, shield, spear and bow. But the 
latter, that once formidable weapon in the Courdish hand 
against Greek and Roman, has now entirely given place to the 
use. of fire-arms; and these chiefly consist of a short carbine, 
slung across the left shoulder by a rich belt of velvet or 
leather embossed with silver or gold, and hanging pretty low 
down upon the right hip. A small silver powder-horn is at¬ 
tached to the same side, usually ornamented with pendent pieces 
of money ; also an iron ramrod, suspended by a silk cord from 
the same shoulder, together with an embroidered cartouch-case 
for charges. On the opposite side appears a similar little ap¬ 
pendage, to contain a page of the Koran, charms, &c. A couple 
of long pistols are stuck in a crimson velvet belt, fastened 
before by a pair of large clasps of embossed metal. Part of the 
left arm is covered with a length of steel, which, united with the 
gauntlet, defends that member as high as the elbow. The right 
arm has no defence, its clothing being nothing more than the 
