'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia' [‎650v] (1302/1386)

38
Inclosure 1 in No. 56.
Extracts from Consul-General Abbott's Diary, kept at Oroomiah during the Kurdish
invasion.
ON returning from the Acting Governor’s on the afternoon of the 20th October
I found that Dr. Cochran had received a letter from Sheikh Obeidoollah, stating that
he would be at the Seir Mountain that night, assuring the missionaries that he would
respect the European and Christian communities, and advising them to collect
together, as far as possible, all their people and proteges in places of safety. The
College buildings were soon crowded with a multitude of Nestorians, men, women, and
children, who had sought a refuge there.
October 21—The Sheikh sent two messengers to Oroomiah, calling upon the
people to surrender, and giving them till noon to consider. Dr. Cochran and
Mr. Labaren went to Mar Sorghees to interview the Sheikh.
October 22.—This morning I rode into town with Dr. Cochran, and had an
interview with the Ikbal-ed-Dowleh. The Governor said that he, with his staff and
troops, were determined to resist, but that the citizens could do as they liked. I
advised the Ikbal-ed-Dowleh to fight the Sheikh outside the walls of Oroomiah, in
order to avoid pillage and slaughter in the town. The principal Mollahs had sent to
the Sheikh to give in their submission in their own names and that of the city. The
Ikbal-ed-Dowleh requested me as a favour to seek an interview with the Sheikh to
try and induce him to suspend hostilities, and meantime he would communicate with
the capital and with Tabreez. If the Sheikh would abandon his intention of attacking
Oroomiah, the Ikbal-ed-Dowleh agreed to suspend hostilities, but if the Sheikh were
determined to fight, the Ikbal-ed-Dowleh proposed to go outside the town for that
purpose.
On returning to the College I heard that the Sheikh with his army was on his way
to the town. I therefore wrote a note to the Ikbal-ed-Dowleh to inform him of this.
I then went on with Dr. Cochran and Mr. Shedd towards the Sheikh’s camp. We
soon met the Sheikh with his army advancing towards Oroomiah. The Sheikh was very
affable. I recommended the Christian populations and all non-combatants to the
Sheikh, who promised me that he would do his utmost to protect their lives and property.
I then delivered the Ikbal-ed-Dowleh's message. The Sheikh said that it was too late
now to enter into negotiations, and complained much of the Persian Government. I
informed him that I must decline to enter into any discussion regarding the quarrel
which had arisen between himself and Persia; that Her Majesty’s Government
desired peace and security within the Turkish and Persian borders, and had at heart
the welfare of the inhabitants of those regions, irrespective of race or creed. I then
took my leave.
The Sheikh on the 23rd October sent a confidential message to me at 8 a.m. to
announce his intention of making an assault upon the city in the afternoon. He said
he wished all non-combatants, whether natives or foreigners, to have an opportunity of
quitting the city beforehand, his object being to obviate an unnecessary effusion of
blood. He therefore requested me to make an effort to enter the city with his
Armenian employ^, Simon Agha, and to make arrangements with the Ikbal-ed-Dowleh
for the departure of non-combatants. I acceded to this proposal, and at 9 a.m.,
accompanied by Dr. Cochran, Simon Agha, and my two Persian guards, proceeded on
what I considered to be an errand of mercy, towards the principal gate of the city.
On arriving within a hundred yards of the gate I sent on a guard to announce the
object of my mission, but presently we saw that the Persians had opened fire upon
him. In fact, within a few seconds we were all under fire and in the midst of a
shower of rifle bullets, which fell thick on all sides. I and my companions then
beat a ba sty retreat to the College, and I owed my life to the fleetness of mv
horse.
On the same afternoon Simon Agha brought me a letter from the Sheikh, in
which, after recapitulating the above incidents, the latter requested me to address him
a letter, which he could produce hereafter in proof of his anxiety to conduct the
present campaign upon principles of humanity, I declined to furnish the Sheikh
with such a document, but addressed to him a brief and cautiously worded letter, in
which, after acknowledging the receipt of the one he had written to me, I confined
myself to stating that he might be sure I should report faithfully to Her Majesty’s
Government the full particulars of the present war.
October 27—1 received a letter from the Sheikh informing me that a deputation