As you may know despite the term Turkey was coined by British for making fun of and humiliating Turks, by depicting a turkey being slaughtered by western powers, the real term for the region which was used for several centuries was Anatolia (Anadolu in Turkish). Political term for the territories was Memalik-i Osmaniye (i.e. Ottoman Territories).
I had already mentioned previously that the Dashnak (i.e. Nazi) Armenians and other turcophobes were (ab)using this intentional error, for demonizing Turks and Turkey (which was established in 1923, far after the so-called genocide in 1915). The purpose of this M.O. is to pose as victims of a genocide so Dashnak Armenians can continue their foreign aid and donation scam, to depict Turks as bloodthirsty monsters so they can get so called Armenian territories in current Republic of Turkey, where they were only 7 percent of the population, after which they shall either stage ethnic cleansing just as they attempted to stage during Ottoman Era, or establish a form of Apertheid.
The following report issued and sent by Consul Taylor to Earl of Clarendon gives demographical data about Eastern Anatolia (despite he uses the term Turkey when it's inure to benefit of His Majesty's Government, he frequently uses Armenia or Kurdistan for the same area as he may deem fit and appropriate).
He sheds some light on the population and ethnic groups living in the region and the relations between them, like who is who who gets on well with whom, who is inclined towards Russia, etc.
While, as indicated by later diplomatic correspondence about the entire Armenian population, some data and numbers he presents are inaccurate, he really does quite a good job in describing the relationships between and characteristics of the ethnic groups.
Not only he does not indicate any direct hostility between the Armenians and (ethnic) Turkish population, but also clearly states that the animosity actually exists between landless and semi-savage nomadic Kurds who were not educated and had no land of themselves nor any artisanship but making a living by breeding animals and Armenians who are either cultivators or artisans and tradesmen, thus envied and frequently were target of plundering and theft by Kurds.
Despite the oppressors of Armenians are tribalistic Kurds of a hundred years ago, Dashnak (i.e. cheuvenistic) Armenians are opting to blame Turks for the dire events happened back then.
Anyway read yourself and see what happened back than through the eyes of British Consuls.
No more discrimination.
No. 25
Consul Taylor to the Earl of Clarendon.
My Lord, ERZEROOM, March 19, 1869.
(Received April 16.)
I HAVE the honour to inclose a report forming Inclosures Nos. 1 and 2 to this despatch.
The items of information it contains are the results of information and statistics I collected during the tour I made last year, as also of my experience of the country and people, after a six years' residence and after traversing it on horseback in every direction.
The commercial data I reserve for my report on the trade of 1868.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. G. TAYLOR.
Turkey No 16 (1877), p. 16, No. 13
Inclosure in No. 25
Report on the Social and Political Condition of the Consulate for Koordistan. (Extracts)
THE object of my journey in the summer and autumn of last year was to visit the northern district of this Consulate, contained in the Erzeroom Vilayet, more particularly that part of the country about the Russian and Persian frontier between Ardahan, Kars, Bayezid, and Van.
The route I pursued from Diarbekr led first through the rich grain district of Sileywan, and then to Nerjek, the seat of the Mudir of the hilly Kulp canton; from whence, by a difficult mountain pass of twelve hours, I reached the Moosh Plain and town of the same name.
Erzeroom Vilayet. - Moosh Muttasurruflik.- The Muttasurruflik of Moosh contains the four Kaimakamliks of Bitlis, Malazgerd, Ikhlat, and Boolanik. The former, from being mountainous, has little arable land, deriving, therefore, its cereals from Van and the two latter districts; but it abounds in other vegetable products, particularly madder and walnuts, from which latter oil is expressed in considerable quantities, which is used for dyeing.
Bitlis, with a total population of 4,ooo families, of which 1,500 are Christians, is a town of great commercial and military importance, as being on the direct road between Bagdad and the Black Sea, and as commanding the leading from the hil1 country of Armenia to the plains of Mesopotamia. Its manufacturing industry is very considerable, particularv in cotton goods, the raw material being imported via Van from Persia; that when dyed, as is the custom, with different shades of madder red, form indispensable articles of female dress in Koordistan; 700 looms are employed in this industry, and 120,000 pieces annually exported.
Malazgerd, Ikhlat, and Boolanik are rich undulating plains, but of comparative little value now, as they are infested with the common curse of the country, the Koords.
These vagabonds prey upon the unfortunate agricultural sedentary classes to an extent that forces emigration to foreign countries of flight to adjacent districts. There is not one of their numerous Chiefs who has not been several times in prison for well-authenticated atrocities, yet still each time they have been in the most unaccountable manner released, to resume the same practices that first occasioned their imprisonment.
Moosh itself is a mean town, with scarcely 2,000 families there and in its vicinity, none of them being at all on a par with those of Bitlis, who justly have reason to complain their more important site has not been made the capital of the district.
The population in the whole Muttasurruflik is as follows;
Moslems Christians
Bitlis 45,600 15,200
Ikhlat 3,000 2,000
Malazgerd 3,500 2,100
Boolanik 7,000 10,000
Chookoor and Varto 11,000 1,000
Moosh City and vicinity 7,000 6,ooo
Nahiehs in plain 9,000 12,000
Total 86,ioo 48,300
Six years ago, when I visited the Moosh district, the fine plain, on one side of which the town is situated, had a thriving aspect. The villages seemed well peopled, and the crops, though damaged by locusts, in far greater variety and profusion than now. Several visits I made to different part of the plain, and a stay of some days in the town, where I had repeated conversations with Moslems and Christians on the subject, partly explained the cause.
The Armenians form the principal portion of the industrious inhabitants in the plain and near the city, supplying all agricultural labour and trade, while the Moslems, mostly pastoral, living on the slopes of the hills bordering the plain, occupy themselves simply with their flocks.
The Reshkotan and Bekran Koords-intolerable thieves-roam with their flocks over the mountain pastures to south; Jibraulee and Modikan Koords inhabit the high hills to the north-west and south-east; the Hassananlee and Millanlee, the northern portions about Boolanik and Malazgerd.
The Kochers and Koords are under very imperfect subjection, and it is only by satisfying all demands however outrageous, that the Christian agriculturist can maintain their position. One unbearable custom, that of Kishlak, has done more than anything else to contribute to their present paucity and decay. That custom, originating some years ago in the weakness of the Government and growing power of the Koords, enabled the latter to exercise the extraordinary right of quartering themselves and flocks during winter in and about the Christian villages, entailing upon the inhabitants large expenses, not only for fodder for their animals, but also food and fuel for themselves, during at least four months.
At the village of Arros, near Khunnus, 18 hours from Erzeroom, I was a witness to the strong Russian feelings pervading most of the Armenian peasantry. In the evening, a large party of the villagers, headed by their priest and Kehya (chief man), collected round my tent and began at once a recital of real and imaginary wrongs they were subjected to by the Turks and Koords. The priest, a native of Etchmidzin, in Russia, was their spokesman, and mistaking me for the Russian Consul, openly declared that he and all his flock were anxious at once to become loyal subjects of the Czar, and ready to do his bidding in the event of any future war.
The conversation, which treated entirely on these subjects and sedition, lasted, with but few interruptions from me, amidst the applause of the ignorant Boors, for more than an hour. I stopped it at length by telling them I was an Englishman, at the same time warning them not to indulge in such indiscreet language, betraying ideas more likely to do them harm than good. I was sorry to hear, during the course of conversation, that an influential Koord Chief, a certain Kassan Agha, of Giök Su, more to the north, indulged in the same feelings.
From Erzeroom I made the round back again to it by the districts of Tchyldir, Kars, Bayezid, Van, and Bitlis. The northern limits of the Tchyldir, as well as of the Kars and Bayezid Governments, are bounded by the Russian-Caucasian provinces and Russian Armenia, while the eastern portion of that of Van touches upon Persia.
Tchiyldir Muttasurruflik. -The road following the foot of the mountains from Erzeroom to Olti, the capital of the Tchyldir Muttasurruflik, is for the most part a gentle descent the whole way, along a good natural carriagable thoroughfare; that, however, in spring and early summer is cut up by brooks and torrents. The town, from its low position, numerous water-courses, and masses of gardens, is unhealthy in summer and autumn, but the rest of the year delightful, the winters being far more temperate than at Erzeroom.
The Tchoruk Su and its tributaries the Olti and Pennek streams water the western portion of the district; numerous rills, forming the head of the Koor, the northern.
Excepting the Olti and Pennek plains, which lie very low, and the flat country about Ardahan, Poskow, and Shoshat, near the Russian frontier, this district is characterized by wooded mountains, everywhere traversed by the carts of the country, covered with extremely rich, luxuriant pasture and level highlands; the latter, from their altitude, producing no other crops than barley. But in the former wheat, millet, honey, and butter are extensively produced, while at Shoshat the culture of tobacco is largely pursued. Near Olti is a mine of lignite, not used for fuel but worked into ornaments, forming a lucrative branch of export, and at Sivree, near Olti also, is a mine of good coal, useful for all purposes, though at present neglected.
Throughout the whole district sheep and horned cattle abound, the latter being far finer than elsewhere in the vilayet, fetching high prices, particulary the cows, as they give abundant supplies of rich milk twice a day. During the past year 10,000 head of cattle and sheep were disposed of to foreign purchasers for the capital, Aleppo, and Damascus, and a considerable quantity of corn and butter exported to Akhkhalsik and Akherkellek in Russia.
Considering the scantiness of population, want of roads, and comparative absence of proper inducement, this province shows great agricultural activity, although cultivation is very limited and money returns small in proportion to what they ought to be, were there suitable means of conveyace to Batoom or other parts of the coast, by which grain and cattle export would be facilitated. For the present a beginning might be made by constructing a highway to the nearest point where the Tchoruk first becomes navigable for boats, namely, to Livaneh, twenty four hours (seventy-two miles) from Old. This work could be easily and expeditiously finished for as far as Ardanutsch, forty-eight miles; a good araba (native cart) road exists already. At present 150,000 quarters of grain are raised in this district, giving, after the want of the inhabitants are supplied, 50,000 quarters available for export.
The Muttasurruflik consists of the three Kaimakamliks of Olti, Ardahan, and Ardanutsch, collectively, containing a population of 64,000 souls, namely:
Souls
Circassians and Georgians 7,200
Terrek Iman 1 3,500
Koords 26,000
Armenians 2,000
Total 48,700
The rest are Turks. In the town of Olti itself, and in some of the villages near the frontier, there are several Moslem families, who emigrated from Akhkhalsik after its occupation by the Russians. Their numbers were originally greater, but by degrees they have been and are returning to their friends in Russia.
Kars Muttasurruflik.-The direct road to Kars, joining the Olti, Ardahan, and Akhkhalsik road, an important strategical position, and as such occupied by the Russians, as shown above, is only eighteen hours (fifty-four miles) from Old. I however took the round by Ardahan over the Kaulee Dagh, and by the Tchyldir Lake to that town, to get a better idea, than I otherwise could, of the people and country.
The town (Kars) thirty-six hours from Erzeroom has a population of 2,000 houses -200 Christian, the rest Moslem-the most loyal in Turkey, as fully proved during the late war and their present sacrifices of time, money, and labour for the fortifications.
The Muttasurruflik consists of the three KaImakamliks of Zerowshat, Shuragel, and Akbaba, containing among them a population of 51,700 souls, namely:
Souls
Terrek Iman 12,900
Koords, in tents 11,100
Turks 23,200
Christians 4,500
Total 51,700
The Koords belong to the Zelanlee, Kizkanlee, Sippikee, and Janadanlee tribes. Of the first 6oo families are in Turkey, and 4,000 in Russia. Those who affect Turkish allegiance all reside close to the border, between Ani and Bayezid, none of them being farther than twenty to thirty miles from it.
An original course a Koord adopts to extort money is to extract one of his teeth, and then purposely engage in a quarrel with a Christian, during which blows are of course exchanged. The Koord then makes a complaint to his Chief, producing the exchanged tooth in evidence, which he swears was knocked out by the Christian during the quarrel. The Chief inflicts in every case, unless he is bribed by the Christian, a fine in money, varying with the reputed wealth of the falsely-accused aggressor, who has no remedy whatever against his accuser. The "pièce de conviction," that is, the old tooth, never in any case being impounded, serves for many similar charges, and is sometimes lent to a friend for the like purpose. This custom is so common that a provincial proverb says "A Koord carries his teeth in his pocket."
Bayezid Muttasurruflik.-Crossing the steep grass heights of the Danir Kapou Mountain, I descended into the Alashgerd plain to Kara Keleesa, and then followed the Murad Su, or Eastern Euphrates, to Utch Keleesa and Diadin, in the Muttasurruflik of Bayezid.
The fine Alashgerd plain is in the Toprak Kalla Kuzzaa, thirty-six hours from Erzeroom. The majority of the inhabitants are Koords of the Chookoor, Zeelanlee, Jelalee, and Knal Hassananlee tribes. The plain is intersected by numerous brooks and deep water-courses that, as was the case this year, sometimes flood the fields, rendering them marshy and unfit for cultivation. These ducts at all times afford an abundant irrigating power, but
little advantage is now taken of it, in consequence of the decrease in the real agricultural class-the Armenians-from the intolerable conduct of the Koords. They belong here principally to the Zeelanlee, who recognize as their Chief a certain Mehemed Pasha Surmelee, now at Constantinople; but his presence at the capital, instead of deterring, rather encourages his sons to practise the same injustice that rendered their father so disgracefully notorious while here.
Although the harvest was most abundant the villagers were downcast, as, from the heavy yields, best wheat was quoted at the nominal price of 150 piastres (il. 7s. 3 d) per quarter; Government at the same time demanded the tithe in money, instead of in kind. It was the same with grass. On account of its abundance kind was refused; the tax-gatherers insisting upon a money assessment of 6o piastres (10s. 10d.) per cart-load, ordinarily sold at 6s. In addition, the collective inhabitants of the plain, which is destitute of wood, were called upon to provide 5,000 poles for the telegraph between Van and Bayezid, and deliver them, eighty miles off, for 40 piastres (7s. 3 1/4d) each. As only fifteen miles of road remained uncompleted, this large demand on them solely was a palpable injustice; and indeed, as reported, the materials, or their proceeds, were mostly appropriated by local functionaries, principally members of the Bayezid and its subardinate Councils.
During the late war, natives of the plain supplied Government with 12,000l. sterling worth of grain, for which till this day they have never been paid. The same thing happened to others in this and the Diarbekr Vilayets. The money was in every instance debited to the Treasury, but never reached its proper creditors. It is easy to foretell the effect of such embezzlment on the people in the event of another war.
The Muttasurruflik has two KaImakamliks, containing-
Souls
Turks 28,000
Christians 8,ooo
Koords 40,000
Terrek Iman 2,500
Bayezid town:
Turks 2,400
Christians I,200
3 ,6oo
Total 82,100
The Koords, taking all the districts into consideration, belong to the Zelanlee, Jelalee, Sipikee, Tchukoorlee, Adamanlee, Mamakanlee, and Haideranlee, all more or less under the influence of Mehemed Pasha Surmelee and his family.
In the new plan for the frontier fortifications Bayezid is left out entirely; as also the entrenched position, twenty-seven miles from it, in the small plain of Utch Keleesa, that was occupied by a Turkish force during the late war. But it is contemplated to erect strong works near Kara Keleesa, twenty miles south-west of the latter, and forty-two hours (126 miles) from Erzeroom, in the fruitful Alashgerd plain.
Van Muttasurruflik.-Leaving Diadeen, I crossed the mountain called Alla Dagh, peopled by the Adamanlee Koords, to Begir Kalla-the ancient Pergri of the Armenians-in the Muttasurruflik of Van, and from thence through its vast plain and along the eastern shore of the lake reached the latter town. The road, though mountainous as far as Begir, could easily be traversed by carts, the ascents and descents being gradual and easy, over a fine breadth of way. The country, however, is deserted, excepting by the roaming pastorals,-there being only one village between it and Diadeen.
On descending the heights of the Alla Dagh and entering the Begir and Van plains, the contrast between the bare mountains and country from Kars, thus far entirely destitute of anything like wood, is very pleasing. For here every village is embedded in gardens; while the town of Van itself, built on the shores of the beautiful blue lake, stands at one end of a real forest of orchards, in each of which are the elegant and commodious summer-houses of the natives.
The Muttasurruflik of Van is divided into nine Kaimakamliks namely:
Moslems Christians
Souls Souls
Ardh elJivaz, containing 9,700 15.500
Aijeesh 8,ooo 4,500
Mahmoodieh 30,700 5,400
Shattak 12,000 4,000
Möx g,8oo 9,000
Kanash 23,000 14,400
Total 91,200 42,800
The Hakkaree-
Julamerk, Gevver, Albek or Bash
Kalla 108,700 111,000
Van and its neighbourhood 17,000 42,000
Total 216,900 195,800
The races inhabiting these countries, amounting to 2,314,000 souls, show in their origin and creeds the same diversity as exhibited in the features, climate, and natural productions of their present home. They are divided as follows:
Erzeroom Diarbekr Kharpoot
Turks 272,500 30,000 140.000
Koords 357,000 391,000 100,000
Christians 411,000 108,000 130,000
Jews 1,200 1,000 Nil
Yezids 2,000 8,000 Nil
Kizzilbash 158,000 12,500 30,000
Terrek Iman 29,000 Nil Nil
Arabs Nil 118,000 Nil
Tchetchens Nil 15,000 Nil
Total 1,230,700 683,500 400,000
The four principal races, the Turks, Koords, Christians, and Kizzilbash in this Consulate respectively number:
Souls
Turks 442,500
Koords 848,000
Christians 649,000
Kizzilbash 200,500
It will thus be seen in the Erzeroom Vilayet that while the Christians exceed the Koords, and the latter the Turks, they surpass the former also in numbers in the Diarbekr Vilayet. Each of these classes are capable of numerous subdivisions, the result of immigration from the southern Turkish provinces, different origin, dogmas, and pursuits, which have stamped them with unmistakable peculiarities of different people, although subject to one Government, and inhabiting for so many centuries the same countries.
It may be useful to give a short account of those sections, to show how far, in consequence of their present feelings towards the Government, they might be disposed to favour or resist Russian intrigues in this quarter; for I believe that, which personal observation has demonstrated, a large and influential party of nearly all classes and creeds, if not openly, secretly incline to Russia.
With regard to the observations respecting Moslem Koords further on, they first be taken to apply to those living near the border, rather than to the whole class inhabiting Armenia and Koordistan.
Turks and Osmaniees.-In former times all classes of sedentary Moslems were known under the common name of Turks, but since the decline of Ottoman power, and abolition, in Sultan Mahmood II's reign, of that system under which the great majority of lands, such as tirmars and ziams, were held, another class has sprung up, known, par excellence, as the Osmanlee. This title is not to be taken in the same sense as we in Europe invariably take it, namely, as signifying any sedentary Moslem subject of the Sultan, for now it is applied to natives of Smyrna, Constantinople, and Roumelia only, whose education, mode of life, or contact with civilization, have imbued them with advanced and enlarged ideas; or to other provincials, whose long residence at the capital has induced similar feelings, and inspired them with desires of comfort, luxury, and dissipation, for the most part unknown to and uncared for by the families from whom they sprung.
Koords.-The Koords, inhabiting the Erzeroum districts, with the exception of the Hakkaree, were originally immigrants from the vicinity of Diarbekr, and there is only one tribe, the Mamakanlee, said to be descended from the Armenian Mamagonians, who are natives of the soil. I except the town Koords of Bitlis, Van, and other places, all totally distinct from the great mass of other Koords, who, having merged into Turks, claim no interest in common with the former. The immigration alluded to was partly the result of measures pursued by Edrisi- himself a Koord of Bitlis-to weaken the Koordish element, then even dangerous in the central provinces. This able Minister of the first Selim divided the Koordish provinces about Diarbekr, recently acquired by the Sultan from the Persians, into eight sandjaks, and forced a greater part of the nomade Koords, who then, as now preyed to a great extent upon the peaceable agricultural population and villages, to emigrate to the southern portions of the Georgian districts, about Erivan, Azerbijan, and Northern Armenia, which, with other possessions, fell to the Turks, consequent upon Selim's victory over Shah Ismail es'Soofee in the plain of Tchalderan.
To utilize the forced emigration, to render it palatable and easy, Edrisi at the same time assured the Koords perpetual immunity from taxation, conditionally on their acting as a militia for the constant protection of the vast frontier they were located on.
Sultan Murad still further strengthened the Koordish element, by sending additional families, from the south, to the same districts; at the same time, he fully guaranteed them the privileges originally granted by Selim.
Yezids.-Amongst the Koords noticed above, inhabiting the frontier line, a Yezid Koord tribe, the Sippikanlee, are included. They amount to 5,000 souls ; but 2,000 only reside in Turkey, the rest in Russia. From their peculiar doctrines they
are detested by Moslems, and consequently lean more to Russia than even other Koords.
The Terrek Iman.-The Terrek Iman-not to be confounded with Turcomans, who, with the exception of 200 souls near Ardahan, do not exist in this vilayet- 29,000 in number, are all agriculturists inhabiting the country between Tchyldir, Kaghizman, and Diadeen. They occupy 155 villages, none of them more than thirty miles from the frontier. The great body of these people still reside in the southern Caucasian Provinces of Russia; and from their faith, costume, and type, seem to be the descendants of Persians, natives of northern Azerbijan, who immigrated from Persia when that portion of the present Russian territory was conquered by Shah Abbass.
The particular number of whom I am now treating, possess at present the villages and lands formerly occupied by Armenians who followed Marshal Paskewich's army into Russia. They are all Shiahs in faith, and therefore opposed to the Turks and Koords, who are Sunnnis. With them, as with the Zelanlee Koords, families are divided, some living in Russia, others in Turkey. The latter are constantly going between the two countries, as they sell the greater portion of their produce at Akherkellek and Akhkhalsik, both in Russia.
These people do not disguise their Russian and Persian predilections, and, indeed, during the late war, aided the enemy materially in procuring supplies and information, at the same time they took that opportunity of indulging their sectarian revenge against the Sunnis.
The name Terrek Iman is applied to them here because they left their native, or rather, adopted country, for one whose ruler, Government, and inhabitants profess religious opinions hateful to the Shahs. They are also known here, as in Persia, by the name of Kara Papaks, from their wearing the large, round, black sheep-skin cap of Azerbijan. Their original reason for leaving Georgia was that the lands at their disposal were too limited for their increasing numbers.
The real head of this tribe, ov Eel Khan, lives in the north of Persia, and all the Terrek Iman, whether in Russia or Persia, are under his influence, implicitly obey his wishes and render him clan allegiance. As such the Persian Consul here arrogates to himself the right of interference on their behalf at the Serai.
Christians-The different sects into which the Christians are divided in the Erzeroum Vilayet are:
Souls
Gregorian Armenians 287,700
Nestorians 110,000
Armenian Catholics 8,ooo
Orthodox Greeks 4,000
Protestants (natives) 1,300
Total 411,000
Armenians-The advice and ostentatious leaning towards Russia of the Armenian clergy in my district, headed by the Catholicas residing at Etchmiazin in Russia, and his bishops in these parts, have naturally enough inclined the more ignorant members of their flocks-rich and poor-to adopt the same views; and considering also that a whole Christian house of ten souls in Russia pays only, for all taxes, 9 roubles (1l.10s.) annually as against three times the sum here, if there has not been a general emigration, it is simply owing to the fact that disposable arable lands in Russian Armenia are scarce, while the reverse prevails in Turkey.
Everywhere throughout these districts I found the Armenians bitter in their complaints against the Turkish Government, at the same time that they were unreserved in their praises of Russia, openly avowing their determination to emigrate. This bias is owing, as already stated, to the constant hostile teaching of their clergy; at the same time, ample cause for discontent, as has already been shown further back, is afforded by the really wretched system of Turkish provincial administration, the unequal imposition of taxes, scandalous method of levying them and the tithes, persistent denial or miscarriage of justice, and practical disavowal of the Christians claim to be treated with the same consideration and respect as their equals among Moslems. But experience has taught me that which candour and strict impartiality compel me to state, that the subordinate officers of the local Government are aided and abetted in their disgraceful proceedings or encouraged in persistent indifference to crying wrongs, as well by the criminal assistance as wilful apathy or silence of the Armenian Medjliss members, ostensibly elected by the suffrages of their co-religionists to guard their interests. Unfortunately then, as the evil lies as much with the Christians as the Turks, under existing regulations there is no remedy for it, and there can be none till the local authorities really see for themselves that the Porte's orders are really carried out and to open the way for the introduction of a higher class of people for such employments. As it is, no man of wealth, influence, or character will accept a seat in any one of the Councils; he will not waste time in attending to official duties in a place where he has to put up with the contumely and impertinent insults of the Moslem members, all which are patiently borne by the fawning and obsequious Christians whose living depends upon this appointment. And even were a man of character and ability to accept a nomination at the hands of his community, the Pasha, with whom in fact the fate of such elections lie, as he has the power of rejection, would always prefer a needy, pliant member to one whose riches and position would place him beyond the reach of his menaces or influence. The interests of the community are consequently intrusted to speculators accustomed to the atmosphere of the Serai in their capacity of revenue farmers or Seraffs, who in such positions have, in addition to their own disgusting servility, all the chicanery and vices of Turkish officials-acquired a dangerous influence, either as the partners or creditors of the chief provincial officers. Such an influence might be meritorious and useful if exercised in the interests of justice and duty, but it becomes a downright evil when practised, as it always is, for their own benefit or that of their partners in corruption, and scarcely ever for their brethren. The claims of the poor are either neglected or betrayed, and those of the rich depend upon the amount of their presents or degree of their sycophancy. The Armenian clergy and head men, on their part, purposely ignoring the villainous conduct of their Medjliss members representing the repeated failures ofjustice that inevitably result as due to the fanaticism or imbecility of a Goverment determined to ignore all just claims, exaggerate actual facts; the more readily to induce their dependants to adopt the disloyal views they propagate. As they pursue such intrigues, apparently unchecked and with the secret approval of Russian agents, wavering members, formerly content with or resigned to their lot, openly express disaffection and traitorous ideas.
Some of the reasons educated Armenians give to account for this Russian feeling among their countrymen are well expressed in a letter I lately received from one of the most intelligent Armenians in the capital. I am obliged to state that, as far as my experience goes, his views are not groundless. While English and French Agents support by all legitimate means the efforts of their missionaries and complaints of proselytes, the Armenians are left to fight their battles through the interested elders or corrupt Medjliss members of their creed, and are thus perforce driven to seek protection from a Power that does everything to gain their sympathy. The inhabitants of the Erzeroum Vilayet, as being closer to and more in contact with Russia, more especially the borderers, partake in a greater degree of this feeling than those living in the remoter districts of Diarbekr and Kharpoot, where it is comparatively confined to the Armenian agriculturists; but, here in Erzeroum, I do not believe that one of the members of the higher moneyed classes does not in a greater or lesser degree heartily share such sentiments, while most of them, though Turkish subjects, are supplied with Russian passports. The traffic in such documents, carried on as secretly as possible, is well known and widely disseminated; no large town in my district being free from these pseudo-Russians.
The exaggerated pretensions, overbearing conduct, and ostentatious display of the Russian Consul in his relations with the local authorities, in which it is needless to say other Consuls do not indulge, coupled with him, tends, among an ignorant people, to give a false value to his particular importance or rather to that of the country he represents, which by still further strengthening their belief that no other Power than Russia is so able or willing to help them, makes them eager to apply to him in their differences and to acquire documents that to them appear claims to the interference of a foreign Power in their behalf. That the intriguing meddling conduct of the Russian Consul is approved, I may state that, although in disfavour with the Embassy at Constantinople, he is supported by the authorities in the Caucasus, to whose diplomatic Chancery at Tiflis he is directly subordinate. It is the policy of the Russian Government, and, therefore, of its Agents, to encourage such ideas, as also to exaggerate real existing evils, or trump up imaginary complaints, in order to keep up that chronic disaffection so suitable to the line of conduct it has always pursued in limitrophe Eastern countries. As suited to its interests, such conduct perhaps is excusable; but what can excuse the forbearing Agent to address them officially in the insulting manner he does, and conduct himself otherwise in a manner towards them that only serves to convince the Rayas of the weakness of their rulers and inability, in consequence of the overwhelming influence of Russia, to prevent such conduct.
I have ventured thus far to intrude my opinions of what I believe to be the predominant feeling among the Armenians in this province, because they form in their numbers, position, and occupations the most influential class, and as being the one most favourable under present circumstances to Russian interests, the most dangerous in an underhand way to the State. The only efficient panacea for such hostile feeling rest entirely with the Government. Were it to take efficient measures to insure the content of the people by radically redressing their wrongs, inflicting severe and impartial justice on their oppressors, remodel its system of tithe assessment, that under which at present the other taxes are divided and collected, and really carry out the spirit of its numerous Firmans in favour of Christians, it would, I am confident, remove existing, disaffection and promote the present and progressive loyalty of its subjects. Without such a programme they will be forced into bankruptcy; that sooner or later must give rise to emigration or open downright rebellion. I cannot exaggerate the situation, nor urge too emphatically that the measure alluded to be recommended to the authorities.
The Armenians of whom I have been treating occupy, with the Koords, the whole frontier line between Kars and Bayezid; they form also the majority in the rich plains and valleys, not including, however, the comparatively limited Deyrsim Kizzilbash district, throughout the whole length and breadth of the land between the frontier and true Euphrates. Throughout that extensive tract they may be said to engross all agriculture and trade, while in the towns three-fourths of capital and commerce are in their hands. With the Armenians, as with the Nestorians, it would be politic and just to confide the smaller subordinate Governments or Mudirliks to intelligent members of their creed, but strangers of the capital or elsewhere, instead of to local Turks and Koords. Impartial justice and security would thus be secured to all creeds, and dangers evitated which under the present system may possibly ensue.
Nesiorians.-The Nestorians, next to the Armenians, form the most important class of the Christian community; but such importance is not due to wealth or intelligence, but to their position in a mountainous country close to the Persian frontier, their numbers and martial spirit when necessity evokes it, and their practically independent state. They are divided into two parties, the Ashiret and Raya. The former are semi-independent; living in secluded valleys or on inaccessible mountains, they take advantage of their position to evade the natural obligations of subjects, either wholly or in part. From the nature of the country, they engage but little in agriculture, their wants being supplied by the produce of their cattle and sheep.
The Ashiret can furnish 13,000 able-bodied men, all armed with good muskets. The knowledge of their strength, their poverty, and the non-fulfilment of lavish promises made to them by the Turks subsequent to Bedr Khan Beg's massacre of the Nestorians, together with constant skirmishes with the Moslem Koords, keep up that martial spirit, unfavourable to entire submission, inclining them in consequence to warlike rather than peaceful pursuits. The Rayas, on the contrary, living in the plains, are essentially an industrious, agricultural class, perfectly submissive to Government.
The following Table, distinguishing the Ashiret from the Raya, gives their collective numbers in the Van Muttasurruflik:
Ashiret Nestorians- Houses Souls
Tiyari 2,500 15,000
Jeylo 2,000 I 2,ooo
Diz 2,400 14,400
Tekhooba 1,500 9,000
Baz 1,700 10,200
Walto 650 3,900
Total 76,500
Raya Nestorians
Leyone 6oo 3,600
Pinyanish 300 i,8oo
Gevver 6oo 3,600
Shemdino 45 370
Mar Beesho 1,200 7,200
Deyree 6o 360
Gevver Pinyanish 300 i ,8oo
Doskee 20 120
Oromaree 200 1,200
Kharawatta 7 40
Elbek 720 4,320
Van District 700 4,200
Mahmoodieh 500 3,000
Norduz 500 3,000
Total 34,510
Ashiret 76,500
Total Nestorians 111,010
In former reports and despatches I have described the pitiful condition in which they live under the Koords and Turks; their persistent attempts to gain a foreign protection, even at the sacrifice of creed and country; and the overtures of their Patriarch, Mar Shamoon, to the Russian Government. I will not, therefore enlarge upon the subject here, but remark simply that, although at present such intrigues will not avail them or hurt the Government, yet it will be far different in the event of any future rupture between Turkey and Russia, or Turkey and Persia; for, as stated in my Report to Earl Russell of the 22nd August, 1864, certain Koordish tribes in the Hakkaree side with the Nestorians, either from fear or mutual interest, as all are eager for any pretext to withhold taxes, and equally greedy for gold, no matter whence it comes. Aided by such auxiliaries, or even having their sympathies, any Russian force operating by Van, with a view of penetrating from that side to Moosh and Diarbekr, would derive immense advantage, not so much from actual assistance as from the occupation their certain revolt would afford the Turkish troops to the south, about Mosul and Diarbekr.
Roman Catholics and Greeks.-Neither of these sects in this Consular district have at present any political importance with respect to probable Russian movements, excepting the Greeks, whose paucity of numbers renders their undisguised sympathy with the Russians of little account.
Protestants.-Although not beanng upon the subject, it may be interesting to give the following notice, condensed from the Annual Report of the American Board for Foreign Missions for i868, respecting the Protestants in my district:
Bitlis, Diarbekr, Erzeroom, Kharput, and Mardin are missionary stations, occupied by Americans. They have eighty-six out-stations, supervised by native helpers. The whole is collectively known as the Eastern Turkey Mission. The establishment consists of:
Missionaries 14
Female Assistant ditto 21
Native Pastors 17
Licensed Preachers 16
Native Teachers 47
Native Helpers 68
who have under their charge:
Churches 22
Persons received on profession of faith in 1867 97
Present number of members 697
Preaching places 8o
Average Sabbath congregation 3,981
Sabbath Schools 35
Sabbath Schools pupils 2,566
The actual Protestant community and ordinary schools, with their immates, are:
Number of Males 2,794
Number of Tax-Payers 1,462
Registered Protestants 4,796
Common Schools 92
Male Pupils 1,492
Female Pupils 677
Total Pupils 2,169
Pupils in the Theological School 48
Pupils in Female Boarding Schools 59
Other Adults Under Instruction 624
Whole number under Instruction 2,900
The community contributed during the year to various objects of Christian benevolence-including pastors' salaries, education, and general charities-6,776 dollars, in gold, an advance of 1,ooo dollars on 1867.
The sale of volumes of the Scriptures, and of more than 8,ooo volumes of other books, is one of the best evidences of the awakened interest of the people, when one considers the above sales were all effected in one year, and amongst a class who has only lately been taught to read.
Amongst the Nestorians, in addition, there are twelve out-stations, occupied by twenty-four native preachers, teachers, and catechists. They are under the superintendence of the American missionaries stationed at Ooroomia, in Persia. The Patriarch-Mar Shamoon-through the British Vice-Consul at Mosul-Mr Rassam-and some of the Nestorian Bishops, lately sent a Petition to the late Archibishop of Canterbury, in which they profess to be left in great spiritual destitution, oppression, and ignorance, despite the efforts of the American missionaries, and implore the aid of the High Church party. This movement has distracted the minds of the people, and is devoid of sincerity, being simply a clap trap to secure pecuniary aid or relief through foreign interference from political oppression. As such, I would emphatically endorse the words of the American Report that "no aid or encouragement be given to a movement thus likely to distract and embarrass the Christian work in progress."
The most interesting feature connected with the progress of Protestantism, and a proof of the sincerity of its members, consists in the efforts made by the different communities to become self-supporting and independent entirely of extraneous aid. Such efforts are the more meritorious as the Protestant is the poorest community in the country, while its taxes, from the sectarian revenge of the creeds its members have seceded from, are heavier than those paid by any other.
It is lamentable, in such a rich country, so close to the sea-board, to witness such, and other impediments to progress, and the restrictions clogging trade and industry in all its branches. A grain country, capable of supplying, even under the present lazy system of agriculture, more than 500,000 quarters of grain for export after all local wants have been satisfied, finds it a losing operation to send any considerable part of its surplus to Trebizonde, 180 miles off, which consequently imports from Russia; and native manufactures, at one time an important item of domestic industry and trade, are now nearly universally replaced by European imitations.
The fact cannot be too often repeated that it is the want of roads that has paralyzed the resources of this province, and contributed so much to the gradual bankruptcy of the people. Government, I am glad to say, is now making some exertion towards remedying this evil, and has appropriated 20,000 l Turkish per annum for three years, from the provincial revenue, towards completing a metalled highway between Erzeroom and Trebizonde. This, when completed, will at once raise the dimes 1oo per cent., besides enhancing the value of all other produce, real property, and trade. The Turkish engineers are sanguine enough to predict its completion in two years from this. If so, and although the Persian transit be lost to this country, the produce of the plains in this vilayet will amply make up any loss sustained in consequence, by competing favourably with the cereals of Southern Russia in the European markets, that will prove a source of wealth to Turkey she has not experienced since the establishment of her rule.
(Signed) J. G. TAYLOR.
Erzeroom, March 18, 1869.
Turkey No 16 (1877), p. 16-36, No. 13/1
