e deadly
instruments. A Kurd once told the writer of his timid son. The child
was afraid to steal. The father wanted to make him a successful thief
and so tried the following plan. The first night he sent the child to
steal grapes from his own vineyard; the second night, corn from his own
crib; the third night, grapes from a stranger, next a chicken, then a
sheep, then to enter a house, and so on until the youth became one of
the most daring of highway robbers. Then the father was proud of his
son and told him that he had become a man and could marry. The girls of
these tribes will not marry a man until his reputation as a successful
robber is established. They want to be assured that they will not be
allowed to starve after marriage.

As before stated, the Kurds are divided into tribes, each tribe having
a chief. These tribes are generally enemies with one another. The chief
of a tribe will lead his men against another tribe and kill all the men
and take the flocks, herd and all other property as booty. But they do
not harm the women and children. An old man is not honored by a tribe.
They say he can't fight nor rob and is good for nothing but to feed
sheep. The man most highly honored is the one who has killed many men.
When a man is killed in battle or while robbing he is honored at the
funeral by the singing of many songs, in weeping and in lamentation;
but not many tears are shed when one dies a natural death.

They are very skillful horsemen, and have fine horses which become very
intelligent under training. Their horses bring a high price in Turkey
and Persia.

THEIR CHARACTER.

The Kurds are very quick-tempered. A slight offense will make them an
enemy and they will at once seek revenge. They are very fond of
fighting and war. Very active and nimble in climbing mountains and in
running and fighting. They love to revile an enemy and are continually
trying to invent new and more severe expressions of hatred. It is their
nature to quarrel and fight. Brothers often become angered over a small
matter and fight to death. They think no more of killing a man than we
do of killing a chicken. They are very licentious, especially those
living in towns and cities. Husband and wife are not loyal to each
other and this is frequently the cause of murder.

As a people they have no foresight, having no thought for the morrow.
They have a saying among them, "God will be merciful for to-morrow."
They are very rash, acting