New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-25
OBEIDULLAH'S FALL.
THE KOURDISH CHIEF A VICTIM OF AN OLD
TRIBAL FEUD


Obodullah has at lust come to hand. 1t 10 worth
reading as illustration of Kourdish tribal rela-
tions and an example of poetic justice, and this
notwithstanding the tact that ITS hero has disap-
peared from the list Of elements Of the Eastern
question.
After escaping from Constsntinople during the
fast of Ramazan, the Sheikh went rapidly and
crety through the Russian Caucasus to the Turkish
frontier near NJ Ararat. Thence he seut ines
seuger to inform his family thathe had been author
lied to return home, and would await an escort at
the frontier. All the principal chiefs of the dis
trict turned ont with motley following of war
riors to welcome the Shelkh and accompany him
home. There were warriors in enormous turbans,
armed with long fnt.lock muskets and choice
Damascus swords warriors in eayly colored broad
cloth, armed with breech. loading rifles; and war
riors in chain armor wearing iron helmets and
armed with spear and shield. The imposing pro-
cesson caused no little curiosity among the Turk
ish authorities along the border. But it was not
hindered in its march and speedily carried the
Sheikh Obeidullsh to his castle OF Nehreh in the
mountains southeast of Lake Van. Nehrieh is
close to the Persian frontier, and has been for
generations the home of Obedulahs family and
free from trespass of Turk Persian. On either
side of the frontier its dependencies stretch away
for miles including many villages, both turkish
and Persian OF which Obeidullah 10 the owner In
fee simple The castle itself is stronghold unsp-
proachabe in its position but even more strongly
defended from aggressive enterprises by the CHAR
scter and quality of it's owner. sheikh among
the KOurds, unlike sheikh among the Arabs. is
religious rather than tribal chief. Hence Obei-
auah's castle was centre Of good things to all the
Kourds of the border Besides the private apart
ments OF the Shekh and the mosque whore he vas
wont to impart reli gOus instruction, and besides
regularly organized orphan asylum whore no appli-
cant was ever denied Abundance to the Shelkhs
bounty, the castle contained long series OF rooms
facing upOn the great quadrangle where kourds OF
any tribe or rank might dwell for any reasonaoIe
length OF time, fed from the Sheikhs kitchen, ana
without question as to why they came "hy they
STAYED or why they left. In thIs castle Obeldullah
was surrounded with the armed retainers of the
varous chiefs who had met him at the frontier and
WAS ENJOYING the first rest after his long journey.
when he was summoned by messenger from the
Governor of Van 90 surrender himself nc onte to be
sent back to Constantnople. CONSERVATION seized
upon the assembled Kourds. Obedullah explained
to them that he had really been authorized by the
Turks TO return home, and that he knew of no
reason for the dckleness of the Government. Upon
this the chiefs declared for resistance, and soon
Obeidullah's sons Sidk and Add Ell Kader had a
force OF several thousand men posted upon the ap-
proaches to NehrIeh. ready to dispute with the
Turkish troops every inch or the detiles.
The Turkish Government had meanwhile been
pressed by both Russia and Persia TO arrest Obei-
dnllah When the Sheikh showed that he had no
notion OF surrendering Turkish columns began to
close in from the west and the south upon the wild
mountain district or Ilekkiari, in which Nehrieh
Is situated. The scouts on the mountains brought
accurate information of tho movement of troops,
and one day brought mp word from the south that
the Hekri tribe OF Kourds, natives in those very
mountains. was acting with the Turkish Army.
THIS intelligence was grave enough. The Hekri
tribe Is one of the richest OF the nOmad tribes of
northern Mel opotamia Its focks are numerous, its
urood-maIos the most noble in blood. and its men
md women AMONG the bOlJest. the best dressed
and the lest equipped. But moro than all, this
tribe had u grievance of long standing against
some OF Obeidullahs people. In the winter this
tribe retires to the borders Of the TIgris below
Mosnl. In the summer, as the pasturage below
gradually parohes away it slowly moves north
ward. climbing the mountains until upon the high
plateaus north OF Van. 1t finds the heritage neces-
sary for its hocks In these migrations the long
trains of pack animals are managed entirely by the
stalw art women of tho tribe. who deck ont the
loads with bright embroidery and silky carpets The
men give their undivided attention to the of
their docks and herds, performing their difficult
patrol duty so ell that If through ignorance
or insanity steals Hekri sheep. no might as well
cut his own throat at once. No skill and speed
will enable HIM to escape tho ayenging sword Of
| the Hekri sheep farmers
THE TALE OF TRIBAL FEUD.
About five year, ago a girl from the ITekri tribe
an pnft limo
! doubtless but the girls parents diSpleased
with her choice Of an object Although the man
was of her own tribe, tail and wellooking, yet the
fact that no was an orphan and lacked Influential
friends NJ well as worldly goods was enough of a
reason tor an opposition which ultimately led the
lovers TO plan an clopement. In deciding upon
this step the two young people risked everything
for the sjern Kourdish morality allows short shrft
| 10 the maiden who has dishonored her family by
| running away with man. Their only chance lay
| IN reaching some neighborins enoampment whose
psople would be compelled by the curious rules of
ehiyary to protect them against tho violence of the
| offended family. The young people set out sepa-
rately 40 that pioof OF their agreement should be
wanting in case OF pursuit. The absence of the
pair was quickly noticed and ESQ the luckless girl,
| when in lonely valley. still mile or two from
the place of refuge discovered i've horsemen OF her
| tribe dashnR down tho hill which she had just
| descended Just at this critical moment single
horsemcn appeared coming from the opposite di-
rection. To him the glrl screamed for help. 1t IS
rule among tho Kourds that the true gentleman
will never permit the weak TO be oppressed by the
strong il the sufferer is Koard and claims protec-
ton. So tho now conner rode up 10 the fugitive and
| had made her mount behind HIM just as her pur-
suers came NJ with loud demands for her surrender
1,ha str,ncer vas Young chief from the tribe of
Gerdi He knew neither tho girl nor her pursuers.
Rnt he faced the five and reminded them that under
the circumstances it impossible for him to give
M the girl until an impartial tribunal had decided
upon their right TO demand her. He pleaded with
the men to respect his of duty and to 60 with
him to the noghbOring village where council OF
.ldnrs cnnld nnickly decide upon the case. lie