NOTES OF A JOURNEY THROUGH A PART OF KURDISTAN, IN THE SUMMER OF L838. BY JAMES BRANT, ESQ., H.B.M. CONSUL AT ERẒRÚM. COMMUNICATED BY VISCOUNT PALMERSTON, G.C.B.
James Brant was British Consul first in Trebizond (1836-1840), then in Erzerum (1840-1846) and Damascus (1855 onwards). His "Journey Through a Part of Armenia and Asia Minor, in the Year 1835" (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London, Vol. 6 (1836), pp. 187-223) and "Notes of a Journey through a part of Kurdistan, in the Summer of 1838" (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London, Vol. 10 (1840), pp. 341-434) [in the second journey accompanied by A.G. Glascott - British Royal Navy] are the records of lengthy travels through Western Armenia.
The studies of J. Brant are extremely useful source for the geography, climate, demography and related aspects of Western Armenia. They also discuss interethnic relations between Armenian, Turkish and Kurdish populations, the attitude of the Ottoman government and local administration towards eastern multiethnic regions. During his journeys J.Brant meets Ottoman officials, Kurdish tribesmen and Armenians of different social affiliation. The report is a highly important source for the history of this part of the Ottoman empire, i.e. Western Armenia, particularly its Armenian population.
*The present narrative of J.Brant’s journey comprises his second visit to the eastern vilayets of the Ottoman empire (the account of his first journey conducted in 1835 was published in the issue 6/2, 2017).
Downloadpdf (0.55 MB)
