'Reconnaissances in Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, North-West Persia, and Luristan from April to October 1888. By Lt F R Maunsell, Intelligence Branch. In Two Volumes. Volume I: narrative report, description of larger towns and routes leading from them. Simla: Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General's Dept, 1890' [‎94r] (192/312)

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Among the Christians of the Persian plains is an intense love of money
associated with a most open and unstinted hospitality. This absorbing
love of gain induces them to judge the religious merits and teachings of the
two Missions, namely the American Presbyterian and the English Church sole
ly from a monetary standpoint, and from the amount of money each spends
on its work.
Between the two Mission Establishments in Urmia the most cordial rela
tions prevail, and they both work towards attaining the same praiseworthy
result; and it is much to be regretted that a party spirit of antagonism seems
rising among their respective followers.
The Nestoriansare great beggars, their priests wandering over Russia, the
Continental Countries, India, England, &c., the result of their gains being in
many cases on their return devoted to their private ends rather than the good
of the community.
There is a want of truthfulness and trustworthiness among them—a fault
common to all Christians living under Muhammadan rule. At the same time
they have a strong faith, devoted attachment to Holy Scripture and a great
love for the ordinances of their ancient Church without any excessive amount
of superstition; and though the people are extremely ignorant they are
most anxious to learn ; they are only too glad to have schools established among
them. The character of the mountain Nestorians, besides, perhaps, retaining the
impression of early persecutions, has undoubtedly been affected by their geo
graphical position, by the influences of nature and by the vicinity of warlike
predatory tribes maintaining hostile creeds and also from their ignorance they
look more to the forms and practice of worship than to the proper under
standing of the Gospel.
It is difficult at a distance to form an idea of the hostility still existing
between Christians and Muhammadans.
Persecuted as they have been for centuries it is not surprising that they
retaliate on their oppressors in a sanguinary spirit whenever they can.
Their hatred is too deep and long endured to subside into mercy and for
giveness ; and ages of tyranny and intolerance have driven from their bosoms
all feelings of pity towards their haughty and implacable Muhammadan
enemies.
The Missionaries by their improved system of education have done much
towards ameliorating the condition of the Nestorian. In addition to edu
cational and technical schools in Urmia, they travel constantly among the
mountains and are well informed about the true state of the country and
public opinion, while an English Missionary resides at Kochanuis with Mar
Shimun. They are instrumental in checking abuses and gaining justice for
the oppressed.
The Walls and Pashas fear the 1 ’eports of any marked abuses which they
make through our Consuls and endeavour to retaliate by all kinds of petty
annoyances as regards passports, &c., to travellers in the country.
The Urmia Missionaries in the summer of 1883 knew of an expected
rising and massacre of Christians by the Kurds, and by the prompt action in
reporting the first disturbances which broke out at Ashitha in September they
were enabled to prevent a repetition of the horrible massacres of Bader Khan
Beg. A much better state of things would exist if an English consul were
appointed to Julamerk. There is now no Englishman in Mosul and Van
is some distance.
Old Chaldeans .—The Chaldeans still under the jurisdiction of Rome in
the Mosul plains have a Patriarch, Mar Elia, who bears the title of Patriarch
VOL. i.
u