'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎220] (255/714)

220
PERSIA
But the reputation acquired by them in Khorasan owing to their
liberation of the slaves at Bokhara and Khiva, most of whom were
Persians from this province, 1 and their deliverance of the border
lands from the devastating scourge of the Turkomans, combined
with the prestige of their numbers and ever forward progress, have
predisposed a naturally craven race to regard their advance with
mingled resignation and respect. Some would be found to think
the change a decided gain. The majority would vote it inevitable.
The sympathy of the few, aided by the apathy of the many, would
disarm opposition and pave the way for an easy conquest. If it be
inquired whether the spirit of religious animosity might not be
invoked, and a, jihad, or religious war, preached against the infidels,
the answer must be returned that Russia is not in the least likely
to proceed until she has guarded against such a contingency. The
religious element is in the ascendant at Meshed, and no doubt
exercises a considerable control over the prepossessions of the
people. Any fear of violation, either of the shrine or of the endow
ments by which it is supported, or of the privileges and abuses
by which it is surrounded, would unquestionably awaken a feeling
of the bitterest hostility. But Russia has never shown anything
but a large patience towards the religious scruples and supersti
tions of her Mussulman subjects. Such suspicions would easily be
disarmed ; and it is to be feared that die holy mullahs and mujtaheds
of Meshed are not more averse than the majority of their fellow-
countrymen to the receipt of bribes. When, therefore, the old
Khan of Kuchan told me that all the people of Khorasan would
rally and fight for Meshed, I believe him to have been talking
nonsense. My impression is that Meshed, if it is destined to fall,
will fall without a blow; and that a change of ownership in
Khorasan might be effected without the loss of a drop of blood.
1 I never heard this doubted until I came across a Russian book, entitled
Sketches of Persia, by P. Ogorodnikof, published in St. Petersburg in 1878. The
author was a Russian who had been deputed by the Imperial Geographical Society
to join a commercial caravan, conducted by General Glukhofski, to Meshed in
1874; and his utterances were mainly an epitome of the views of a Russian
merchant, named Baumgarten, who resided for many years in Shahrud and was
seen there by Baker, Napier, MacGregor, and other English travellers. Baumgarten,
who presumably knew what he was saying and could not be regarded as a Russo
phobe, denied that the Khivan release of prisoners had brought any popularity to
Russia, and declared that the Persians held the Russians in contempt while cring
ing to them, and seeking to propitiate them as possible informers to the Shah
against their misdeeds and rapacities.