File:The citadel rock, Van.jpg

Identifier: cradleofmankindl00wigrrich (find matches)
Title: The cradle of mankind; life in eastern Kurdistan
Year: 1922 (1920s)
Authors: Wigram, W. A. (William Ainger), 1872-1953 Wigram, Edgar Thomas Ainger, Sir, 1864-1935
Subjects: Kurds Kurdistan -- Description and travel
Publisher: London, A. & C. Black, ltd.
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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for him; and when the Persian Government ismanifestly so feeble that the road cannot be kept open evenfor the Royal Mail, what can Consul and Consul-General dobut patrol the roads for the public good ? And thenbehold the occupation as complete and permanent as thatof the English in Egypt. In both cases, the result looks asif there had been a deep-laid and unscrupulous plan allalong. In both cases there has been no such thing ; butcircumstances have pushed the men on the spot into action ;and authority at home (with more or less of unwiUingness)has had to acquiesce. Neither Power has been able to avoidthe feeling, mea res agitur, paries cum proximus ardet.*It is all for the best for those most concerned, for now there issafety, comfort, wealth, and an even law for all; but allthe same ones memory turns lovingly to the picturesque,dirty, disreputable days of a few years ago ! In those days, a real Seyyid (or even a sham one) had therights that a Descendant of the Prophet ought to have.
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o > UO w Q< H I—( U UiXH THE PLAGUE OF SEYYIDS 209 He lived at free quarters where he chose (on Christianvillagers mostly) and paraded the streets in a flowing purplerobe with a green turban, which indicated by its folds andpattern whether the wearer was descended from the Prophetby the male or female line. He was hated by all creeds maybe, but he was feared byall notwithstanding ; by Moslems for his supposed spiritualrank, by Christians for his undoubted worldly power. Woeto the Christian dog who presumed to shirk getting off hishorse and standing at the salute when the Seyyid rode by ;it was an unmerited favour that he should be allowed to ridea horse at all ! Of course, there are gibes against the clan in plenty: forthe more grossly superstitious a man is, the more impossiblehe finds it to keep his tongue off the Church which never-theless he dares not disobey. When all else is bound, it ishard if speech is not free ! Thus we are told how Khoja Nazr-ed-din was sent outby hi

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