'General information on Persia for any future edition, 1895' [‎84r] (158/211)

at Zerans and Toni villages and in Shattakh Caza, but I believe restitution has been
enforced in most of these cases, as well as in pettier thefts and robberies.
TV hat specially impressed me whilst thus travelling was the unusual attention
bestowed upon preserving order and quiet along the frontier of Persia. Between
Serai and Shemdinan I found companies of infantry and of mounted zaptiehs stationed
at six or eight posts along the margin of Gevar, Albak, and Mahmudi, extending for
upwards of 100 miles. The village peasants appeared to be even grateful in places for
the protection afforded, and I learnt that these troops were kept under strict discipline,
and their presence was not under any circumstances a burden or troublesome in those
districts.
In Gevar the annihilation of Abdurrahman and his outlaw comrades had produced
a good effect. Kaso, the brigand who last year had carried off into Persia a large
number of sheep belonging to the Nestorian Notable Cumber, of lyal, had also come
in penitent, and was on the point of making full restitution. The pursuit for the
nomad Ileriki malefactors (mentioned in my despatch of the 4th ultimo) had entailed
serious results ; as no idea of surrender had been entertained, an attack had been made
in which three or four zaptiehs had been killed or wounded, and twice as many of the
Kurds. A battalion of the regular troops was then to be sent to chastise them, hut
some 300 families, in fact, almost all the settled Shemdinan Ileriki, at once withdrew
beyond the Persian frontier. Mar Shimun was paying a visit to his tribesmen in
Tkhoub and Jelo, where tranquillity was again established. These Nestorians are no
less wild and cruel than their fellow Kurds. It may be believed (my information is
from non-Moslem sources) that some of their clans, when one of the tribe has been
slain by Kurds, will not rest satisfied with exacting only one life in retaliation, but
several, provided they can do so without attracting attention or any inquiry following.
I think, however, that the energy and ubiquity of the present Mutessarif is producing
strides of progress in the right direction, and can only hope that such officers may be
well supported for a while to completely change the face of affairs.
Nouri Bey and the sons of Abdal Bey of Mukus were arrested a considerable
while ago for suspected participation in the murder of the Armenian “ Melik ” in
Kavash Caza, reported in my despatch of the 4th ultimo, but the murderers of the
Armenian killed in Garchigan have not been taken vet.
There is still, however, a sensible current of discontent in some quarters, and
many of the Christians continue to assert that the quantity of rapine and disorder is as
excessive and as little checked as ever, or that if one or two noted outlaws have been
punished, those who secretly connive at ill deeds and robbery always go unscathed.
But there is little foundation for such plaints.
1 have &c.
(Signed) ’ GEORGE POLLARD DEVEY.
Inclosure in No. 70.
Vice-Consul Devey to Acting Consul Hampson.
Sir, Van, August 17, 1891.
WITHIN the last few days seven Yezids, led by a certain Simo (Ismail), of
Yarenkaya, who dwell in villages to the north of Van, and are closely assimilated to a
Kurdish “Ashiret,” were engaged in driving off by force some horses from the
Armenian village Karagunduz, on Lake Archag, when two mounted zaptiehs, who
chanced to be at that village, supported by the peasants, interfered, and succeeded in
recapturing the animals. Unhappily, one of the zaptiehs was shot dead by the Yezids.
It may be hoped that these brigands will be hunted down.
I have &c
(Signed) ’ GEORGE POLLARD DEVEY.
No. 71.
Acting Consul Hampson to Sir W. White.—(Received at the Foreign Office, September ] 8.)
Sir, Er zero urn, August 22, 1891.
I HAVE the honour to forward to your Excellency copy, in duplicate, of
a despatch received from Acting Vice-Consul Boyadjian, giving an account of a serious