cquainted with their
lives, manners, and customs, has kindly given some of the information
that follows.

In regard to their ancestry it is very difficult to trace back to the
original stock from which they came. They have lived under the
authority of several governments, and it is believed that in their
blood is a mixture of old Assyrian, Chaldean, Babylonian, and Arabian.
It is supposed that some of the wildest characters in all of these old
nations formed the tribe of Kurds, of whom there are to-day, about
4,000,000. Their dwelling-place is in the Kurdiston mountains, a large
territory through which runs the boundary line between Turkey and
Persia. Most of it lies in Turkey. The Kurds are nominally subjects of
these two countries, but practically they are a band of outlaws beyond
the control of any government. Those who live in the mountain districts
pay no taxes to Turkey or Persia, but those residing in the villages of
the plains are required to pay taxes the same as other citizens. Great
numbers of them residing in the mountains and deserts are nomads,
traveling where they will with their herds and flocks. A Kurd is very
wild and independent in spirit. He would rather live in a cave under a
projecting rock and be unmolested, than to dwell in a palace and be
subject to higher authority. Some of the tribes have a small village in
the mountains, to which they return in winter.

Recognizing the wild and daring spirit of these men, the Sultan of
Turkey has trained some of the dwellers in villages of the plains for
cavalrymen, and called them the imperial cavalry. Mounted on splendid
Arabian horses and provided with modern firearms, they are well-nigh
invincible. The Persian government has no confidence in the Kurds, and
so employs none of them in the army.

[Illustration: KURDISH CHIEF AND ATTENDANTS.]

OCCUPATION.

The Kurds seldom cultivate the soil, but keep herds of cattle and
horses and flocks of sheep, moving from place to place in search of
good pasture. They can make very good carpets and other articles of
wool, which they sell to Persian and Turkish merchants. Some of them
become very rich from their herds and flocks and from the sale of
carpets. One of their principal occupations is robbery. Parents teach
their children how to become successful thieves. A father will give his
son, of six or seven years of age, a pistol, dagger and shield and then
play robber with the child, showing him how to use thes