mangur tribe

L.O.Fossum on Mengur Tribe

23 Sep 2009

L.O.Fossum on Mengur Tribe
Fri at 15:44
In the latest article published in Ruwange in Sorani Kurdish translation, The great American Missionary L.O.Fossum who served the Kurdish people in Sablax ( Iranian Kurdistan) before the First World War, informs the readers of "The Kurdistan Missionary" about the tribes in Sindùs and Mengurayeti districts.
He particularly speaks about BAYIZ PASHA Mengur. L.O.Fossum published two pictures related to this interesting item.
On Mengurs he writes: " The Mongur tribe of Kurds are well known. The district occupied by these most feared of all Kurds in Persian Kurdistan lies south and west of Soujbulak, beginning about 5 miles from the city and stretching nearly to Serdasht, and comprising about 100 villages.
Among this warlike Mongur (Mengurr) tibesmen I have found the jolliest and most humoristic Kurds that I have ever met and I got the impression that they are very friendly to foreign missionaries. They are often spoken of as the blue-eyed Kurds. During the last years of Russian invasion of Persian territory they have kept themselves in good humor and interested others by claiming that they were related to the blue-eyed Russians.... However that may be, they appear as thoroughly Kurdish now as any other Kurds.
I here present a picture of the "Chiefest of all Mongur Chiefs" and his two sons.He is known under two different names and titles: Baiz Agha, and Baiz Pasha. The former is his real name; the latter title was given him by the Turks a few years ago, when they invaded this part of Kurdistan and used all kinds of tricks and vain titles to gain the good will of the Kurdisg chiefs.
He is the nephew of the great Kurdish chief Khader Agha, whose old home our mission occupied last year.The picture represents him and his two sons in typical Kurdish costums, each holding a Martini rifle and wearing several cartridge-belts stuffed full of cartridges,and with the curved dagger of the country stuck in their wide sashes.
This chief is a worthy representitive of the greatest of all Kurdish families of Persia. He is now about 42- 44 years old. At the present time he is the most powerful chief in this part of Kurdistan. But he is said to be a warm friend of all foreigners.....
" The Kurdistan Missionary" Vol.3. Detroit,Mich., May, 1913. No.7. "

Bayiz Pasha Mengurr and two of his sons.
Photo by: L.O. Fossum
Year: 1913>