Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-04-05
HISTORIAN Christians.

The existing remnant Of HISTORIAN Christians
is found principally among the mountains of
Koord,stan, and in Ooroomiai, an adjacent dis
trict in the western part OF Persia. Geograph-
icalIy they situated between 36 and 80
Of north latitude, and between 49, and 46 ,
Of east longitude.
koordistan is the ancient Assyria, embracing
also part Of Armenia and Of ancient Media
1t consists mainly Of wide ranges Of mountains,
which divide the Turkish and the Persian en-
pires Its western sections nominaliy subject
to Turkey, and its eastern to Persia. The in
habitants, however, pay but limited allegiance
to either; and some Of them-the Aakkary tribe,
in central Koordistan, in particuiar-are nearly
or quite independent. Tho koords-tho Car!uchi
Of Xenophon, who gave him much trouble on
his retreat with the ten thousand-consst Of a
great number Of tribes. who. from time imme-
mortal, have been keepers of flocks-wild, fierce
barbarians given to plumber. Much Of their
country is exceedingly rough, aud admits Of but
little cultivation. This, added to the iierceness
of the people. render portions Of it well nigh in
accessible. and consequently but little known to
civilized nations.
The HISTORIANS Of Koordistan inhabit the
dish mountains Some Of the districts are so
rough, that no beast Of burden, save with the
utmost difficulty, can travel over them. The
least populous districts Of these HISTORIANS, as
Carver, So,nai. Chara, Munodia, and some 9th
ers, are subject to the koordisl tribes who dwell
in the districts, and by them sore,y OPP
pressed and often Pundered. Odler districts,
as Diss, Jeoo, Bass, T-hoob, and TIaree, have
a larger HISTORIAN population and more in
depe nden than their koordsh neighbors. Such
is particularly the Of Tiaree, situated in the
rugged narrow valley Of the river Zab-running
into the Tigris, tho ancient Zabus, or Zabis-
which is the most Populous Of all the HISTORIAN
districts Of tho mountains. Its governed by
Enthusiastically kings-or chiefs, chosen from,
its own people. by the popular voice irreg"Iarly
expressed. The office Of these chiefs is usualIy
hereditary in the same family. This district in
Tiaree is not only quite independent of the
koofds. but its inhabitants have such character
for bravery and f-rocity, even toward their Koor-
dish neighbors, that the latter seldom hazard the
adventure Of entering that country; and such
! do enter it, said often to atone for their
temerity, by being murdered and thrown into
the river. The local situation Of Tiaree, hem
med in as it is by steep, lofty mountains, save
where the river. by narrow defiIes, enters and
leaves the district. serves, less than its popu
lousness. efiectualIy TO defend its Inhabitants
from Invasion.
The HISTORIANS Of the mountains, like the r
koordsf neighbors, obtain their subsste nee to a
great extent from the pasturage Of flocks. The
principle part Of their able soil in most places
consists Of small t-rraced patches, on the steep
decllvities Of the mountains And rough and
barren is much of their territory, that the people
fine it almost imPoss ible TO live in their own
country. Some travel abroad and beg pro-
fession. Cousid. rabie numbers comic down to
the plain Of Ooroorniah in the summer, TO find
employment; and still more ere driven dow in
the winter, to seek a subsiste nee on charity. In
some Of the districts which moro susceptible
of cultivation, and less Liable to the ravayes of
the koords, the Inhabitants obtain a comfortable
chiefly Of the products of their focks, ith RICE
aud bread made Of a species Of millet. Wheat
is seldom cultivated.
The HISTORIANS of these mod niains Resemble
their kooriish masters and neighbors, not only
in their mode Of obtaining su bsiste nee, but al
so, in a degree,in their exceeding rudeness.
wildness aud bcidncss Of character. The in.ab-
itants Of difie Is quarrel aud
plumber each other: and if remonstrance - offer
I'd, the pilIagers Justify themselves by replying
TINT they rob their Christian bre hren save the
spoil from the koorjs!-R<r. J. Perkins