'General information on Persia for any future edition, 1895' [‎52r] (94/211)

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little and with persuasion and by means of other inducements, it may be hoped that the
Government will ultimately carry through both these and any other measures for a more
regular and profitable administration.
The Kaimakams of Albak and Shattakh were to have exchanged posts, but it has
been found undesirable.
In the last six or seven weeks, as has been mentioned elsewhere, companies of
infantry were distributed at a number of villages in the neighbourhood; some were
sent to the frontier stations, Diza, Bashkaleh, Serai, and others are posted at the villages,
Karakenduz, Sivan, and Norkeigh, and at Chukh Khan a zaptieh cordon at the Chukh
Pass on the Bashkaleh road. It was lately rumoured that the “ Bedif ” were to be
disbanded, hut no such order has yet been received by the officers in command.
His Imperial Highness, Muzaffer-ed-Din, the “ Veli-i-Ahd,” has been travelling
about Urumiah and Salmas, I am told; it is not believed that the journey was under
taken with any special political objects; but one may well hope that His Majesty the
Shah is turning his attention to the frontier provinces and that some day an under
standing will be arrived at between Persia and Turkey for measures to restrain border
Kurdish raids.
A week ago alarmist reports reached Van from Argish ; the Kaimakam of that caza,
who had come to Van for two or three days, was ordered to return post haste, and a score
of telegrams were interchanged next day. It subsequently appeared that a certain
Mahmud Agha had been secretly assassinated, the how and why unknown. I men
tioned this matter to the Yali privately ; his Excellency seemed to be unaware of any
murder having taken place, but told me he had received information from Erzeroum of
a party of thirty (Bussian ?) Armenians being about to make a descent upon Argish ;
he had therefore hidden the Kaimakam return forthwith and he on the look-out,
hut to be careful not to make promiscuous arrests of innocent travelling parties
unarmed.
Two incidents, as yet unreported, took place in Hamidi Caza within the last
month: (1) a robbery of some 210 sheep from Gater, an Armenian village 5 miles
east of Khoshab town, by Persian Kurds; sixty were got hack; (2) a quarrel, and
murder of a Kurd by a Kurd, in Yerdalan village, also in that neighbourhood; the
homicide was seized by the Khoshab authorities, and is in prison.
Seven discharged soldiers were robbed at the Chukh Pass, three or four weeks
ago, of their pay and chattels by Kurds unknown. A shepherd who was on the
mountain has been under arrest and examination, but the culprits have not yet been
traced.
I have, &c.
(Signed) GEOKGE PATTEBSON DEVEY.
P.S. November 26.—Having visited his Excellency the \ ali again this afternoon,
I inquired whether any complication had occurred at Argish, and was assured that all
was perfectly tranquil; a false rumour would appear to have arisen out of the fact
that a rather large train of Turkish Armenians were departing via Argish for Bussia
to earn wages there during the winter.
No. 8 .
Sir W. White to the Marquis of Salisbury.—{Received March 9.)
My Lord Constantinople, February 19,1891.
MB.’ ACTING CONSUL HAMPSON having brought to my notice charges
against Ahmed Bey, who was appointed in November last as Kaimakam of Alashgird,
of having, since his assumption of office, forcibly collected large sums of money from
the Christians of that district, I instructed Sir Alfred Sandison to mention the matter
to the Grand Vizier. . .
His Highness has informed me, in reply, that the Kaimakam in question has
been now dismissed from his office at Alashgird.
I have, &c.
(Signed) W. A. "WHITE.