'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia' [‎650r] (1301/1386)

37
official who was principally implicated, and restored to the Nestorians the bulk of the
property they had lost.
Although it will be seen from the above that the condition of the Nestorians leaves
much to be desired, there can be no doubt that it has considerably improved of late
years. In making this statement, I am fully borne out both by the American
missionaries and by the Nestorians themselves. Persian officials are as a rule
remarkably tolerant, and never molest the Christians in the exercise of their religion.
The influence deservedly acquired in the country by the American missionaries,
who have now laboured amongst the Nestorians for forty years, affords them sufficient
protection in trivial cases of oppression. When serious ones occur, the missionaries
report them to me, and I have always found the Persian authorities ready to afford
redress. In matters of special difficulty, I have recourse to the assistance of Her
Majesty’s Minister at Tehran, and by these means have never failed to obtain the
desired result.
The moral and material improvement every year more apparent amongst the
Nestorians of Oroomiah is mainly due to the efforts of the American missionaries. In
every Nestorian village the missionaries have a place of worship and a school with its
pastor and teacher. The mission buildings outside the town, including a college, a
hospital, and dwelling-houses, inclosed in 15 acres of ground, are fine massive
structures, and standing testimonies of the tolerance of the Persian Government. The
Nestorians of the rising generation are receiving a sound education, both religious and
secular, and learning to read and speak in the Anglo-Saxon tongue. Christianity,
diffusing its many blessings throughout these regions, affords the best guarantee for
future progress, and is gradually ushering in a period of enlightment and peace.
" (Signed) WILLIAM G. ABBOTT.
Tabreez, November 11, 1880.
No. 50. •
Consul-General Abbott to Earl Granville.—(Received December 4.)
My Lord, Tabreez, November 15, 1880.
I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith to your Lordship extracts from my
diary, kept at Oroomiah during the Kurdish invasion, and copy of my despatch to
Her Majesty's Minister at Tehran on the same subject; giving also an account of
my journey through Merghever, Ushner, Suldowz, and Soug Boulak to the Persian
camp at Binab.
Hearing very alarming accounts of the progress of the Kurdish armies towards
Tabreez, I considered it my duty to quit Oroomiah, and return to my post with as little
de ay as possible.
I should have incurred great danger by attempting to traverse the ordinary route
by Selmas, Sheikh Sedik being on the point of attacking the Persian force under aimur
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. Khan in that neighbourhood.
The only course open to me was to trust myself to a Kurdish escort given by the
Sheikh, and to proceed through the line of country which had surrendered to his arms.
Even the route which I selected presented many perils, and it was with a feeling of
much relief that I at length entered the Persian lines.
The Sheikh having informed me that the escort would be waiting for me at
the Kurdish camp, I was obliged to proceed there, where I found it in readiness to
accompany me.
During my stay at Oroomiah it appeared to me right to bring the whole weight
of my influence to bear upon Sheikh Obeidoollah, both to obviate unnecessary blood
shed and to secure the safety of non-combatants.
The plunder of some of the Christian and Mussulman villages on the Oroomiah
Plain by the Kurdish soldiery was, of course, inevitable; and I fear that the additional
presence of a large Persian army in that province will tend to aggravate the position
of affairs in this respect.
I was frequently placed, whilst at Oroomiah and on my return journey, in trying
and dangerous positions, but trust that the efforts I made to save life and property in
the interests of the Christian and Mussulman populations will meet with the approval
of Her Majesty’s Government.
I have, &c.
(Signed) WILLIAM G. ABBOTT.