'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia' [‎653v] (1308/1386)

44
Mahommed Hoosim Khan, Bakhtyaree, stood their ground in the fort of Doab until
their ammunition was exhausted, when they were obliged to take to flight.
The Kurds that very same night began massacring the inhabitants of Doab, young
and old, male and female. Some they threw into the flames, ripping open the bellies of
some of the women, and cutting off the breasts of others. They beheaded the Sheikh-
ul-Islam, Moolla Jaaffer, and fixed the head on a lance. The rest of the women and
children were driven away into captivity. God knows what other deeds have been
committed there.
After the taking, plundering, and massacring of Doab, the Kurdish horsemen
advanced upon Maragha, and have laid siege to the tower of Maragha and the village
of Bouab. Hajee Agha Ali Nazee has put Bouab into a state of defence, and Colonel
Cassem Khan, son of Hussein Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. Khan, has kept the town of Maragha up till now.
Erom a report received yesterday Colonel Agha Khan, Afshar, who left Tabreez
several days ago with two regiments of infantry and four guns, arrived just in time to
save Bouab, for if he had arrived there two or three hours later, the Kurds would have
taken the place. Agha Khan himself has written to say that on arriving at Bouab he
fought the Kurds and defeated them, forcing them to withdraw half a farsakh off.
Yesterday the Itimad-es-Sultaneh also left Tabreez with another regiment of
infantry and 100 loads of ammunition to join Agha Khan.
The Kurds, after taking Doab, have laid waste the villages surrounding Maragha,
and plundered all the harvests. The inhabitants have all dispersed and fled away.
M. Manoohjee’s village, Hajee Behzad, and that of Kara Chapook, belonging to
M. Cassabois, and also the fief of the late Dr. Cormachi’s family, have been plundered
and laid waste.
Inclosure 4 in No. 60.
Letter from the Moonshee of the British Consulate-General at Tabreez.
(Translation.) October 12, 1880.
PROM intelligence just received Sheikh Obeidullah has appeared before the city
of Oroomiah with a considerable number of followers, and is stationed 3 farsakhs
distant from the town.
The Itimad-es-Saltaneh is still at Bouab and Maragha with Colonel Agha Khan
and General Hassan Ali Khan. No further engagement has taken place there. The
Kurds, who were in the neighbourhood of Bouab and Maragha, have fallen back upon
Doab, which is 6 farsakhs distant, but they are yet engaged in plundering and laying
waste the surrounding country.
No. 61.
Mr. Thomson to Earl Granville.—{Received December 9.)
My Lord, . . Tehran, October 31, 1880.
THERE is great difficulty in obtaining here accurate information of what is
occurring in Oroomiah and in the Province of Azerbijan generally in respect to the
Kurdish insurrection. The same difficulty is encountered at Tabreez, and M. Zinoview
informs me that the Russian Consul, being unable to obtain trustworthy intelligence
there, has been obliged to send one of the native employes of his Consulate to Maragha
to make inquiry on the spot.
Mr. Abbott reached Oroomiah on the 2nd October, and I have heard from him
twice since that date. In a despatch dated the 7th instant, he describes the state of
affairs at that date in Oroomiah, and reports such information as had reached him
respecting the advance of the Kurds from Souj Boulak and the ravages committed by
them in the district of Maragha. On the 14th instant he mentions in a private
letter that he had collected all the information required to enable him to report on the
condition of the N estorians, and that he proposed leaving for Tabreez on the 18th, but
that the American missionaries were anxious that he should remain another week.
The only inloi mation that has reached me in respect to his movements is the
report cuuent here amongst the Persians that he left Oroomiah before the town was
invested, but had been obliged to return as the Tabreez roads were occupied by the
Mr. Abbott has forwarded to me copies of two communications lately addressed bv