Not Many Wise

[4] 1950’s Mosal – Kurdish delight but very dangerous

See Real-life stories: wartime children and African safaris Content Hub

Article was written by:

Joe Lucas

Born in 1930. In the 1950’s Joe opted for travel and adventure overseas to Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda…

See all the articles in this category:

[1] A bad short cut down the Muse Escarpment
[2] African 1950’s Safari introduction
[3] WW2 dogfight – Before the Safari days
[4] 1950’s Mosal – Kurdish delight but very dangerous
[5] A Gift of Marbles
[6] Wallowing Hippopotamus, Sable and Roan Antelopes
[7] A 1960’s Safari Guide and me
[8] Tanganyikan safari: Fire in the night
[9] The Donkey’s Revenge – Egyptian safari
[10] African safari – The valley of the Shadow of Death
[11] Souvenirs from East Africa: figures 1 to 3
[12] East African Colonialism out in the bush
[13] A good read while on safari
[14] Souvenirs from Tanganyika: figures 4 to 6
[15] Comfort in solitude: uplift
[16] On a Wing and a Prayer
[17] Souvenirs from Kenya: figures 7 to 8
[18] The Silent Key
[19] A sting in the tail – deadly scorpion
[20] Sundowners on African safari’s
[21] A Dog’s Life in a hotel bar on an African safari
[22] Processionary caterpillars on African Safari
[23] African Souvenirs: figures 9 to 11

African safaris real life
African safaris real life stories

All categories:

African safaris real life
A dry, dusty road in Basra.
A dry, dusty road in Basra. By Peter Reason licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Too hot! 130 deg Fahrenheit is too hot even for mosquitoes, so to escape the climate of Basra in Southern Iraq, I took a spell of local leave.

A flight to Baghdad, with an overnight stop in the Semiramis Hotel on Rashid Street, then another flight on to 1950s Mosal – all bad news now, but peaceful, happy places in those days.

After a short stay there, then on to the objective; the Kurdish country bordering Turkey.
How could I get there, no airfields, buses or trains?
I was introduced to a little driver, Kurdish, not Arab. He looked through, rather than over the wheel of his huge well worn Chevrolet.
The fare was agreed, half in advance, mainly for petrol (and probably bribes) and we set off.

Bullet hole in windscreen.

The tarmac soon gave way to dust, but it was halfway through the day, about 70 miles on before foothills replaced the plains.
Further on and well into the mountains my driver seemed happier, now in his own country, so I raised the subject of the bullet hole that starred my half of the divided windscreen.
Apparently, recently in this valley, his passenger in my seat was an Arab police chief. Same destination, same route, same place, but not as welcome as myself!
No, he wasn’t scared, they were aiming for the policeman not him! These hill dwellers were born marksmen, accurate shots, some trained and retained by our own Royal Air Force as a ‘Home Guard’ called The Levies.
Magnificent scenery and a distant, stone bridge (built by Alexander the Great) restored my soul.

Two Kurdish children in July 2010.
Kurdish children 1

Onwards and the road was tarred again, built by British troops during the Mesopotamian War but with switchbacks and hairpin bends. Miss a turn and there was plenty of time for a prayer before hitting the bottom! Confidence? Luck? Judgement? Skill? Trust? Take your pick; and again on following days, mule trekking and climbing. Fifty years on, I now realise who really ‘fixed’ it all.

I have created you and cared for you since you were born.
I will be your God through all your lifetime, yes, even when your hair is white with age.
I made you and I will care for you.
I will carry you along and be your Saviour.”

Isaiah 46:3-4

Joe Lucas January 2006

See Joe’s African safari articles: [1] A bad short cut down the Muse Escarpment!
[2] African 1950’s Safari introduction
[5] A Gift of Marbles
[6] Wallowing Hippopotamus, Sable and Roan Antelopes
[7] A 1960’s Safari Guide and me and Victoria Falls

Photo credit – opens in a new window:

  1. Özgür Mülazımoğlu on Flickr cc ↩

See all the articles in this category:

[1] A bad short cut down the Muse Escarpment
[2] African 1950’s Safari introduction
[3] WW2 dogfight – Before the Safari days
[4] 1950’s Mosal – Kurdish delight but very dangerous
[5] A Gift of Marbles
[6] Wallowing Hippopotamus, Sable and Roan Antelopes
[7] A 1960’s Safari Guide and me
[8] Tanganyikan safari: Fire in the night
[9] The Donkey’s Revenge – Egyptian safari
[10] African safari – The valley of the Shadow of Death
[11] Souvenirs from East Africa: figures 1 to 3
[12] East African Colonialism out in the bush
[13] A good read while on safari
[14] Souvenirs from Tanganyika: figures 4 to 6
[15] Comfort in solitude: uplift
[16] On a Wing and a Prayer
[17] Souvenirs from Kenya: figures 7 to 8
[18] The Silent Key
[19] A sting in the tail – deadly scorpion
[20] Sundowners on African safari’s
[21] A Dog’s Life in a hotel bar on an African safari
[22] Processionary caterpillars on African Safari
[23] African Souvenirs: figures 9 to 11

All article categories:

Article first published:

Last updated:

Category:

Tags:

2 responses to “[4] 1950’s Mosal – Kurdish delight but very dangerous”

  1. Hi Ray
    I’m just answering for Joe who’s not internet connected: “I’ll speak to you soon on the phone”
    from Peter Reason

  2. Hi Joe,
    Nice to see reference to your “Journal” it was worth a read and Margaret always used to forward your Magazine to me and it reminded me of when we were in the Choir together. Never sang a note myself but it pleased Mum to have us in the choir and once they gave me 1/6 for attending a wedding. (Money under false pretences)
    All the Best