Publications, Newspaper Cuttings, Photographs and Correspondence about Persia and the Persian Gulf [‎309v] (621/879)

APRIL 9, 1910.
THE times of India mail EDITION.
3
DIARY OF A TRAVELLER.
By Caravan.
Mr. Fraser’s journey from Isfaphan to Shuster proved
full of incident. He describes in some detail the
cathed al of Jaifa and its frescoes, and was fortunate
enough to "discover a library of great a chaeological
in erest. On the way he was overtaken by Chiragh Ali,
son of the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. of the Bakhtiari.
By the kindness of Messrs. Lynch Brothers
Agent in Teheran I found a small caravar
waiting. me in Isfahan. A written document
set forth that Reza, Charvadar, placed one
horse, four mules and his own body and soul
at my disposal for the journey to Shuster, at
a price equivalent to ten pounds sterling
Reza, a hang-dog looking fellow with ragged
clothes and an unwashed appearance, com
menced an acquaintance with a request for a
present to compensate him for a delay in stilt
ing of two days. He next failed to oo there
at the hour appointed for loading up. Whin
he came the horse had no bridle. W hen I
sent him to the bazaar for a bridle lie took
two hours to do what should have occupied
ten minutes. Finally, loading up took our
times as long as it might have done if ne had
been worth his salt. Boiling inwardly 1 main
tained a calm exterior, mentally zalzulatinz
at what pressure to the square incn a man
bursts. The caravan gone, however, I made a
good lunch with my host and afterwar is set
forth on a borrowed horse which was tc cauy
me over the first stage of the journey.
In an Armenian Cath edr-l.
Our way ran through the Armenian village
of Julfa, where 1 had arranged to inspect the
cathedral. This institution proved unexpec
tedly interesting, and though the building it
self is without particular attraction the interior
is extraordinarily curious. A circular dome
about sixty feet high lights a large square hall
whose walls are completely covered with paint
ings of scenes from the Bible. As high art I
have no idea of their value, but to me they
were as satisfying as old masters. The artist
must have been a realist, for his col jus are
rich and strong, and bloody as could be where
the subject gives occasion. The whole story
of the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelitions
and after is illustrated with verve and origi
nality. One might have spent hours studying
the examples of early Christian imagination and
never tired. I liked best the pictures of
the damned, and bethought me that swear
ing would be a much less popular practice if
its patrons really knew what damnation
meant. Hell according to the Armenian ar
tist, who is really believed to have been an
Italian is a very uncomfortable place and
quite hot enough for Christians of any deno-
mination. Very vivid is the illustration of
Jonah sitting disconsolate in the belly of the
whale. He has a paper in one hand and
something small in the other, which I take
to mean that he is following the course with
chart and compass. The town of Babel stops
at seven stories here, but the people at the
foot are evidently quarrelling in different
languages. Job sitting in the ashes quite
sets one teeth on edge, while David watching
Bathsheba in her bath is worthy of the
French Academy. Before leaving I climbed
to the little gallery high up in the dome to
which ■ Lord Curzon says there is no means of
access. Having got up at the risk of my
neck I understand why Lord Curzon could
not find the way.
History of the Colony.
After the church the priest in charge took
us .round the adjacent offices, which Consist of
school, library and printing press.. The lat
ter was in full swing turning out a weekly
church magazine in the Armenian character.
The school was having its Christmas holidays,
but in the library I spent an interesting half
hour examining a number of ancient books.
Some of these date back to the year 600 A.D.
and there are others of lesser ages, all so far
as I could gather being- portions of the Bible,
handwritten and beautifully illumiated. One
contained a fascinating picture of the Creation
showing Adam asleep with one of his ribs stick
ing into the air. At the end of the rib is a
tiny Eve. The pair of them are then depicted
walking naked among wild beasts. Next comes
the episode of the forbidden fruit, in which
the serpent and the apple are elabo
rately . drawn. Finally the guilty pair
are seen slinking out of the Garden
of Eden, conspicuously adorned with
gigantic figleaves. Curiously none of the
many writers who have treated upon the sub
ject of the Armenians at Julfa have referred
to these books which are undoubtedly ancient
and of great antiquarian value.
Lord Curzon says the colony was transplant
ed from Julfa in the northern border of
Azerbaijan by Shah Abbas some three hun
dred years ago. The priest who showed me
round however declared that his forefathers
came from Echmiadzin, the seat of the Arme
nian Archimandrate near Mount Ararat; but
Lord Curzon is probably correct. The colony
at one time numbered about 30,000 but owing
to persecution the inhabitants have gradually
divindled, until only some 2000 are left. It is
from Julfa that most of the Armenian emi
grants to India have come, and none so far as
I could ascertain ever return. The colony here
as are others in Persia, is responsible for the
production of large quantities of wine and
spirit. The Armenians themselves drink like
fish, and the Persians are only too .glad to
follow suit, though they believe the Armenians
doomed hereafter because of this nefarious
trade. A feature of the conditions in Julfa
is the jealousy existing between the three
kinds of Armenians, the Roman Catholic ones,
the Protestant ones brought up in the English
missionary fold, and those belonging to the
original church. Drunkenness is most pre
valent among the Protestant ones, which shows
that the instinct for civilization is strong in
the Armenian when the opportunity to cul
tivate it offers.
Unfavourable Omens.
A maze of narrow lanes traversed, and we
emerge from Julfa into the open country be
yond. Some friendly residents of Isfahan had
agreed to start me in the way, and with an
escort of Tiwana Lancers from the consulate
we made quite a large party. The weather
was brilliant, with all the charm that bright
sun, blue sky, and purple mountain can con
fer. Mid-winter at a height of 5,000 feet is
always cold and bracing, and to the exhilara
tion of fine air was added the attraction pros
pect of a long journey through new country.
It seemed an auspicious beginning; but hardly
had the thought crossed my mind than my
steed slipped on a patch of frozen ground and
came down with a crash. The hardy camera
that has been my faithful companion all these
years presented tho same old corner to my
ribs as I fell and proved itself no softer than
of yore. The leg under the fallen horse took
all the button marks in the usual way, while
the hip on the side next the ground met with
a very stiff reception. Nobody in the cavalcade
liked this plain warning that the day was an
unlucky one for starting. Remounted, I pro
ceeded as before, until, as we were trotting
along a perfectly level smooth plane, down
came my beast again. The corner of the camera
scored another point against my side, the
ground got in another sledge hammer blow on
my hip, and the map imprinted upon my leg
by the weight of the horse spread itself in
all directions. The unfortunate animal barked
both its knees and thus incurred for me the
ignominy of having injured another man’s pro
perty. It looked indeed as if I had forfeited
the favour of Heaven. Nevertheless I took
the chances, called for another mount, and set
out once more, amid the horror stricken mur-
murings of the native members of the party,
who took the man to be mad that could ignore
this double intimation of divine displeasure.
Soon afterwards I bade adieu to the kind
friends who had accompanied me so far, and
rode on to the village of Pul-i-wargan, when
I counted to find my caravan bestowed, my tea
ready, and a comfortable blazing fire whereat
I might warm my hands and soften the stiffness
that had crept into my limbs. Old bones resent
the gymnastics described above. But the
caravan; although it had ample time had not
arrived, neither tea nor fire was ready, and 1
had to wait an interminable time for both. My
advice to the European intending to visit Per
sia is to have his heart broken before he comes
it will save him much subsequent trouble and
will fit him for residence in a fashion that no
other variety of suffering will.
Hangers on by the Way.
Our night at Puli-wargan proved miserably
cold and I was awake and up before the sun
reached the horizon. Everybody else was
asleep and I had the pleasure of turning the
sluggards out into the cold much soonei
than they would have preferred. They had
their revenge by taking an interminable time
to pack up and be off. Soon after seven, how
ever, the caravan was under way, and only
then did I realise that our numbers were in
creased by four mules, two muleteers, and a
Persian clerk or mirza who proposed to accom
pany me to Shuster. These hangers on after
wards proved a great hindrance but I could
not get rid of them, as my charavadar counted
for assistance upon the two extra muleteers-
The rascal had stated at Isfahan that he had
an assistant, and indeed he had two, neither
of whom, however, paid the slightest attention
to my orders. Nobody does care for orders in
Persia, and the giving of them is usually super
fluous. The first ten miles of the day’s stage
ran across a large plain devoted
to rice cultivation. Irrigation channels
continually barred the way, and their
crossing meant the transit of precarious brid
ges or diving into sticky hollows where our
animals slipped or floundered. Having cros
sed this interesting region we began to rise over
a long bare slope covered with stones and quite
devoid of vegetation. Here we passed an enor
mous enclosure that puzzled me mightily, for
there was nothing to indicate its use. Its
dimensions seemed about two miles square,
with a surrounding wall twelve feet high, but
broken in several places. Inside was nothing
but a stony waste, without buildings or in
habitants, vegetation or water. Its deserted
appearance suggested one of the numerous sites
of the Garden of Eden, scattered over The
Middle East, and -that explanation sufficed the
un il I discovered that it was merely an old
hunting park enclosed by Shah Abbas some 300
years ago. A gentle climb of several miles
took us over a low pass from which we could
see an enormous valley, fifteen miles across,
through which meandered the upper reaches
of the Zendeh Rud, already twice crossed since
leaving Isafahan.
Mil s of Desolation.
The mountains on the far side of
the great valley mark the boundary of
the Bakhtiari country, and constitute also
the watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins. between Central Persia and the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The scene from the pass is typi
cal of the country. An immense area stretched
before us, the ground lying in beautifully
defined folds, each with its own shade of russet,
or blue or violet. Surrounded by purple snow-
topped mountains, and domed by the cobalt of
Heaven, the colouring is exquisitely
complete desolation ! Nothing living to be seen,
animal or vegetable. Mile upon mile upon mile
of soft flowing lines, unbroken by sign of habi
tation or of moving figure, desert as it has been
since prehistoric times, carved and rounded by
the ice of another age, shaped as it was in the
beginning of things—Such is the Persian
plrt.au, an immense waste scarce redeemed
from utter loneliness by the few delightful
spots r.scued from the wilderness by the labour
of mankind. The great valley before us proved
to be, as we advanced across it, not so blank as
it seemed, for when we could see into the bed of
the river we discover’d a series of small villages
nestling close under the high banks. Here the
Zendeh Rud wandered backward and forward
in a narrow band of rich alluvium cut into
flats whereof every inch was carefully culti
vated. Four hundred yards broad at the most,
this pleasant strip formed a sharp contrast to
the surrounding wilderness; cosily hidden be-
l w the general level its position seemed to be
designed for escape from the bleakness above.
A Bakhtiari Friend.
It was while crossing this valley that I first
encountered Chiragh Ali. Tramping along for
the good of my health, with my nag in tow by
the reins, I could hear a quick-stepping horse
coming up behind me. When it came along
side a shrill voice gave me “Good Morning,” in
English, and looking up I perceived a small boy
perched before a man riding a handsome grey
Arab. Brown eyes were gazing at me seriously
from under the peak of a tweed cap that was
nany sizes too large for the wearer. My ser-
ant rode up and explained that this was
Chiragh Ali Khan, son of Samsam-es-sul-tanet,
ili liani of the Bakhtiari. At this introduction
I saluted and got back in response “Are you
quite will?" That exhausted my little friend's
tock of English and henceforward we commu-
licated by interpretation. His father having
left Isafahan for Teheran—did I not meet the
Samsam’s weird equipage on the road—the
boy was homeward bound to see his mother,
Accompanied by two tutors, his male nurse, and
in escort of six Sowars. He was greatly exer-
used to know why 1 walked when I had a
lorse to ride, why I carried no gun and why
I travelled without Sowars. To these enqui-
’ies I replied that I walked because I was
strong, like all Englishmen, that I had no gun
because I did not want it to shoot anybody,
ind that I had no escort because travellers
were quite safe in his father’s country. My
r plies were unanswerable though far from
convincing to Chiragh Ali whose ideas were
ompletely otherwise. But he was too polite to
irgue and so proceeded to other subjects. The
sowars behind however were not to be put off
so easily. Ore hard bitten looking specimen
isked what I would do if I were attacked by
obbers. I replied that the well-known gen-
lemanliness of the Bakhtiaris made that im
possible in their country. He accepted the
ompliment with complacency, but begged me
iust to suppose that we were attacked—what
w uld I do then. Having had some experience
of the kidney and perc iving the gleam of cove
tousress in this rascal’s eyes, I instructed
Agajan to explain to him how before leaving
Teheran I had gone to Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Assad, the great
man of the Bakhtiaris in these days, and ar-
•anged for my journey, and that I carried let
ters to all the chiefs. It seemed advisable to
let th se gentry know that I was an important
erson, for it is their business to lie in wait
for people who can be robbed with impunity.
Agajan explained the situation at such length
that I demanded to know what he was saying.
He was rubbing it in with a vegeance it seemed.
Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Assad according to Agajan had agreed
to cut the right hand off any man who robbed
men and to return the value of stolen property
four times over. If I were wounded the culprit
would be bastinadoed until he died and if I
were murdered the Bakhtiaris would have to
pay 50,0C0 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. to the heirs of my body.
These unblushing inventions had great effect,
and henceforth I was treated with caution,
whether because of the risk of incurring any
of the aforesaid penalties, or out of respect
for a man whose servant was such a powerful
liar, cannot be said. Chiragh Ali was a firm
friend of the British Consul General in Isafa
han, and on this account considered himself
half an Englishman. His brother, a member
of parliament in Teheran, had brought him his
overcoat from England, and Chirach Ali meant
to go to London himself in the fulness of time
to buy rifles and revolvers and swords and
other implements of civilization. Paris had no
attractions for him, London was his goal. But
when little bovs grow up they are apt to prefer
the former. Paris indeed is the bourne of all
semi- enlightened Asia.
DAVID FRASER.
FIRE IN RAJPUTANA.
Bhilwara in the Rajputana district was the
scene of a big cotton blaze on the 25th in
stant. The fire broke out suddenly, and at
the time as there was a strong wind blowing
the flames spread with incredible rapidity to
the bales and loose cotton stacked in the ad
joining sheds, where a number of men, women
and children were engaged in looking after
he cotton and stacking the bales.
Before they were able to realise their posi
tion they were enveloped with smoke and sur
rounded by fire. Some were able to extricate
themselves, but between twenty and twenty-
five lives were lost in the flames. A young
girl’s saree unfortunately caught on fire and
in her attempt to extinguish the flames she
jumped into a loose bale of cotton standing
near by, with the result that the cotton im
mediately ignited, and she too met with a ter
rible death.
The cause of the fire is not yet known. The
loss which is estimated at about Rs. 50,000
is only partly covered by insurance.
MADRAS COUNCIL.
The Madras Legislative Council was held
on Tuesday, at the Banqueting Hall, and the
Government members answered as many as 110
questions put by non-officials. At the instance
of the Advocate-General several amendments
were made in the rules for the conduct of the
business in the Council.
The Hon. Mr. Atkinson then made a long
statement relating to principal modifications
in the Budget and its special features, but the
debate on the same has been postponed to
allow of the Council proceeding with the dis
cussion of several resolutions of general inter
est, of which non-official members had given
notice.
The first resolution dealt with was that of
the Hon- Kesavu Pillai who moved that village
officials be relieved of the duty of finding
supplies for officials on tour. He dwelt on the
numerous troubles and opportunities of op
pression which the villagers and village offi
cials were liable to owing to the enforcement
of the system which was most demoralizing
in its consequences.
The Hon. Mr. Atkinson made a long speech,
defending the necessity for the system, but
moved an amendment with the object of se
curing a revision of the rules governing it with
a view to minimising the evils attendant on
it.
Several speakers dwelt on the objectionable
features of the system, but were inclined to
accept the amendment. The Hon. Mr. Ke-
sava Pillai was eventually induced to with
draw his resolution in favour of the amend
ment, which was, carried.
. The Hon. Mr. Perraju next moved a resolu
tion urging local option with a view to check
the growth of the drink evil. He made a
speech full of facts and figures showing the
enforcement of local option as the only effec
tive means of checking the drink evil which
the Government had as the chief object of its
excise policy.
The debate on the resolution had not con
cluded when the Council adjourned for the
day.
At the meeting on Wednesday, there was
considerable discussion on the motion to give
local option regarding the location of liquor
shops to Municipalities.
The Government strongly opposed the pro
posal, and the Hon. Sir William Meyer said
it would be as logical to give a body of men
on the Municipalities, who almost without
exception did not drink, power to control the
liquor trade, as it would be to give those
people who looked upon excessive litigation as
an evil power to control the places of residence
of legal practitioners.
The motion was rejected.
ALLAHABAD EXHIBITION.
Mr. G. R. Murray, C. S., Secretary of the
United Provinces Exhibition to be held in
Allahabad at the beginning of December next,
has just issued an interesting prospectus ex
plaining the scope and objects of the Exhibi
tion- The Exhibition will open on 1st Decem
ber, 1910, and will last for three months clos
ing on 28th February, 1911. Learned Hindu
pandits have announced that the date of the
opening ceremony is especially propitious for
commerce and industry and 1st December is
also the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen-
Empress. The prospectus, besides containing
a descriptive account of the Exhibition as it
will appear in December next, includes a num
ber of general rules and regulations with which
it would be well for intending exhibitors to
acquaint themselves as early as possible in
order to prevent any misunderstandings in
future. Among other things it is laid down in
these regulations that under no circumstances
will exhibits be received after 15th November,
and that, while every facility will be given to
exhibitors for the sale of their goods, no ex
hibits will be allowed to be removed until the
close of the Exhibition. Exhibitors further are
advis d to have a small stock of similar
articles at hand for ready sale. Some misap-
preh nsion seems to exist in regard to exhibits
of fo eign mar ufacture. The following regula
tion on the subject may be read with special
intrest in Germany: “All articles of indi
genous art or manufacture will be welcomed
as exhibits as well as machinery and manu
facturing processes of foreign origin. Other
articles of foreign manufacture will only be ac
cepted if, in the opinion of the committee, they
are likely to promote or develop Indian art
and industries.”
It appears that the idea of the promoters of
the “Minto Park” in Allahibad to make use
of the site of the United Provinces Exhibition
park and course is intended to commemorate
the inauguration of the reforms scheme under
the present Viceroy and the memorial
pillar, which is to be one of its prin
cipal features and will do honour to
the names of Lords Canning and
Minto, will be a sign for all men to mark that
the “pledges” given in the famous Proclama
tion of 1858 have in no way been forgotten.
LICHI.
ROSE SCENTED in hermetically sealed cans.
Much appreciated in For ign Conntrits Orders
solicited The Sanitary Canners, Box 45, Darbhanga—
Bengal—India.
mination. Very vivid is the illustration of
Jonah sitting disconsolate in the belly of the
whale. He has a paper in one hand and
something small in the other, which I take
to mean that he is following the course with
chart and compass. The town of Babel stops
at seven stories here, but the people at the
foot are evidently quarrelling in different
languages. Job sitting in the ashes quite
sets one teeth on edge, while David watching
Bathsheba in her bath is worthy of the
French Academy. Before leaving I climbed
to the little gallery high up in the dome to
which Lord Curzon says there is no means of
access. Having got up at the risk of my
neck I understand why Lord Curzon could
not find the way.
History of the Colony.
After the church the priest in char, took
us round the adjacent offices, which consist of
school, library and printing press.. The lat
ter was in full swing turning out a weekly
church magazine in the Armenian character.
The school was having its Christmas holidays,
but in the library I spent an interesting half
hour examining a number of ancient books.
Some of these date back to the year 600 A.D.
and there are others of lesser ages, all so far
as I could gather being- portions of the Bible,
handwritten and beautifully illumiated. One
contained a fascinating picture of the Creation
showing Adam asleep with one of his ribs stick
ing into the air. At the end of the rib is a
tiny Eve. The pair of them are then depicted
walking naked among wild beasts. Next comes
the episode of the forbidden fruit, in which
the serpent and the apple are elabo
rately . drawn. Finally the guilty pair
are seen slinking out of the Garden
of Eden, conspicuously adorned with
gigantic figleaves. Curiously none of the
many writers who have treated upon the sub
ject of the Armenians at Julfa have referred
to these books which are undoubtedly ancient
and of great antiquarian value.
Lord Curzon says the colony was transplant
ed from Julfa in the northern border of
Azerbaijan by Shah Abbas some three hun
dred years ago. The priest who showed me
round however declared that his forefathers
came from Echmiadzin, the seat of the Arme
nian Archimandrate near Mount Ararat; but
Lord Curzon is probably correct. The colony
at one time numbered about 30,000 but owing
to persecution the inhabitants have gradually
divindled, until only some 2000 are left. It is
from Julfa that most of the Armenian emi
grants to India have come, and none so far as
I could ascertain ever return. The colony here
as are others in Persia, is responsible for the
production of large quantities of wine and
spirit. The Armenians themselves drink like
fish, and the Persians are only too glad to
follow suit, though they believe the Armenians
doomed hereafter because of this nefarious
trade. A feature of the conditions in Julfa
is the jealousy existing between the three
nt mm-for residence in a fashion that no
other variety of suffering will.
Hangers on by the Way.
Our night at Puli-wargan proved miserably
cold and I was awake and up before the sun
reached the horizon. Everybody else was
asleep and I had the pleasure of turning the
sluggards out into the cold much sooner
than they would have preferred. They had
their revenge by taking an interminable time
to pack up and be off. Soon after seven, how
ever, the caravan was under way, and only
then did I realise that our numbers were in
creased by four mules, two muleteers, and a
Persian clerk or mirza who proposed to accom
pany me to Shuster. These hangers on after
wards proved a great hindrance but I could
not get rid of them, as my charavadar counted
for assistance upon the two extra muleteers.
The rascal had stated at Isfahan that he had
an assistant, and indeed he had two, neither
of whom, however, paid the slightest attention
to my orders. Nobody does care for orders in
Persia, and the giving of them is usually super
fluous. The first ten miles of the day’s stage
ran across a large plain devoted
to rice cultivation. Irrigation channels
continually barred the way, and their
crossing meant the transit of precarious brid
ges or diving into sticky hollows where our
animals slipped or floundered. Having cros
sed this interesting region we began to rise over
a long bare slope covered with stones and quite
devoid of vegetation. Here we passed an enor
mous enclosure that puzzled me mightily, for
there was nothing to indicate its use. Its
dimensions seemed about two miles square,
with a surrounding wall twelve feet high, but
broken in several places. Inside was nothing
but a stony waste, without buildings or in
habitants. vegetation or water. Its deserted
appearance suggested one of the numerous sites
of the Garden of Eden, scattered over The
Middle East, and that explanation sufficed me
un il I discovered that it was merely an old
hunting park enclosed by Shah Abbas some 500
years ago. A gentle climb of several miles
took us over a low pass from which we could
see an enormous valley, fifteen miles across,
through which meandered the upper reaches
of the Zendeh Rud, already twice crossed since
leaving Isafahan.
Mil s of Desolation.
The mountains on the far side of
the great valley mark the boundary of
the Bakht’ari country, and constitute also
the watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins. between Central Persia and the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The scene from the pass is typi
cal of the country. An immense area stretched
before us, the ground lying in beautifully
defined folds, each with its own shade of russet,
or blue or violet. Surrounded by purple snow-
topped mountains, and domed by the cobalt of
Heaven, the colouring is exquisitely
complete desolation! Nothing living to be seen,
animal or vegetable. Mile upon mile upon mile
of soft flowing lines, unbroken by sign of habi-
wuid tao men. Tiaving had some experience
of the kidney and perc iving the gleam of cove
tousress in this rascal’s eyes, I instructed
Agajan to explain to him how before leaving
Teheran I had gone to Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Assad, the great
man of the Bakhtiaris in these days, and ar-
ranged for my journey, and that I carried let
ters to all the chiefs. It seemed advisable to
let th se gentry know that I was an important
nerson, for it is their business to lie in wait
for people who can be robbed with impunity.
igajan explained the situation at such length
that I demanded to know what he was saying.
He was rubbing it in with a vegeance it seemed.
Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Assad according to Agajan had agreed
to cut the right hand off any man who robbed
men and to return the value of stolen property
four times over. If I were wounded the culprit
would be bastinadoed until he died and if I
were murdered the Bakhtiaris would have to
nay 50,0C0 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. to the heirs of my body.
These unblushing inventions' had great effect,
and henceforth I was treated with caution,
whether because of the risk of incurring any
of the aforesaid penalties, or out of respect
for a man whose servant was such a powerful
liar, cannot be said. Chiragh Ali was a firm
friend of the British Consul General in Isafa
han, and on this account considered himself
half an Englishman. His brother, a member
of parliament in Teheran, had brought him his
overcoat from England, and Chiragh Ali meant
to go to London himself in the fulness of time
to buy rifles and revolvers and swords and
other implements of civilization. Paris had no
attractions for him, London was his goal. But
when little bovs grow up they are apt to prefer
the former. Paris indeed is the bourne of all
semi- enlightened Asia.
DAVID FRASER.
FIRE IN RAJPUTANA.
Bhilwara in the Rajputana district was the
scene of a big cotton blaze on the 25th in
stant. The fire broke out suddenly, and at
the time as there was a strong wind blowing
the flames spread with incredible rapidity to
the bales and loose cotton stacked in the ad
joining sheds, where a number of men, women
and children were engaged in looking after
he cotton and stacking the bales.
Before they were able to realise their posi
tion they were enveloped with smoke and sur
rounded by fire. Some were able to extricate
themselves, but between twenty and twenty-
five lives were lost in the flames. A young
girl’s saree unfortunately caught on fire and
in her attempt to extinguish the flames she
jumped into a loose bale of cotton standing
near by, with the result that the cotton im
mediately ignited, and she too met with a ter
rible death.
The cause of the fire is not yet known. The
loss which is estimated at about Rs. 50,000
is only partly covered by insurance.
“7 FYI putter iu control the places of residence
of legal practitioners.
The motion was rejected.
ALLAHABAD EXHIBITION.
Mr. G. R. Murray, G. 8., Secretary of the
United Provinces Exhibition to be held in
Allahabad at the beginning of December next,
has just issued an interesting prospectus ex
plaining the scope and objects of the Exhibi-
tion. The Exhibition will open on 1st Decem
ber, 1910, and will last for three months clos
ing on 28th February, 1911. Learned Hindu
pandits have announced that the date of the
opening ceremony is especially propitious for
commerce and industry and 1st December is
also the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen-
Empress. The prospectus, besides containing
a descriptive account of the Exhibition as it
will appear in December next, includes a num
ber of general rules and regulations with which
it would be well for intending exhibitors to
acquaint themselves as early as possible in
order to prevent any misunderstandings in
future- Among other things it is laid down in
these regulations that under no circumstances
will exhibits be received after 15th November,
and that, while every facility will be given to
exhibitors for the sale of their goods, no ex-
hibits will be allowed to be removed until the
close of the Exhibition. Exhibitors further are
advis d to have a small stock of similar
articles at hand for ready sale. Some misap-
preh nsion seems to exist in regard to exhibits
of fo eign manufacture. The following regula
tion on the subject may be read with special
intrest in Germany: “All articles of indi
genous art or manufacture will be welcomed
as exhibits as well as machinery and manu
facturing process’s of foreign origin. Other
articles of foreign manufacture will only be ac
cepted if, in the opinion of the committee, they
are likely to promote or develop Indian art
and industries.”
It appears that the idea of the promoters of
the Minto Park’ in Allahibad to make use
of the site of the United Provinces Exhibition
park and course is intended to commemorate
the inauguration of the reforms scheme under
the present Viceroy and the memorial
pillar, which is to be one of its prin
cipal features and will do honour to
the names of Lords Canning and
Minto, will be a smn for all men to mark that
the "pledges" given in the famous Proclama
tion of 1858 have in no way been forgotten.
LICHI.
ROSE SCENTED in hermetically sealed cans.
Much appreciated in For ign Countries Orders
solicited The Sanitary Canners, Box 15, Darbhanga—
Bengal—India.