'General information on Persia for any future edition, 1895' [‎65r] (120/211)

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20. Evidently a mistake in tliedate, as the occurrence is mentioned in my despatch
of the 31st October.
28. On sca era! occasions lately there have been rumours of robbery in Agans
ton n in the market and in houses, but, to the best of my knowledge, these were as
often contradicted.
Ihc charge nas that nine sheep, or their value in money, was levied upon the
tillage of Si van, on Armenians and Kurds impartially, by a band of tribal Kurds.
I ossibly the village was willing to pay the amount of tribute, on the understanding
that their property should not be harmed.
1 he Sheikh Abdurrahman Baba Pekke case is a complicated affair, arising out of
a land law-suit, which the Armenians of Shahbagh won in the Courts of First
Instance and of Appeal at \ an some six years back, but is now being tried in the
Court of Cassation at Constantinople.
It is difficult to pronounce upon the merits of such a case, as also upon a similar
claim to lands disputed between Derbaz Agha and certain Van Armenians at
Salakhane village (a Memorandum forwarded respecting Derbaz Agha and Salakhane,
8th February last). It is now stated that Derbaz Agha levied a considerable, rather
than trifling, quantity of corn upon the Salakhane villagers.
there is no reason to doubt that 1 ifur blackmailed a dozen measures of wheat at
the Aimeman a illa^e Ivcoshk ; nor that forty to fifty sheep Avere raided at Boghaz-
Kessen \illage (Bogazik), of Avhich the owners shortly contrived to regain possession.
As to AgjaA r eran, an Armenian village, if sheep were not stolen the pretension
was that harm of some sort was inflicted upon the Armenians bv Kurds.
As to the Kangevar charge of stealing tAventy-tive cattle or twenty-five sheep, it
would appear that the same item had been repeated by error.
The next item of sheep-stealing at Kotranis was given on the authority of an
English lady who passed through that village ; possibly her informants misled her.
The secret murder of Mahmud Agha is a statement made upon the word of a
person intimately acquainted with Arjish Caza affairs. M. Develay, a French traveller
avIio passed through Arjish, heard of the same incident.
A Kurd sIcav another in Kurdalan (not Kulan) village, and was brought to
justice.
Sheep looting in Gevar, Shemdiman, &c., Cazas, is mentioned in my despatch of
the 31st October last.
The burning of hay of Panos of Marx forms the subject of a Memorandum sent
last week.*
It is said that thirty-two villages in all have been looted of sheep in this
neighbourhood durinir the past few months.
(Signed) GEORGE POLLARD DEVEY,
December 30, 1890. Her Britannic Majesty's Vice-Consul for Van.
Memorandum respecting Shakir and Tifur.
The facts relating to Shakir are briefly these :—
In April last he levied blackmail at villages; the further robberies alleged were
denied by the Government.
After that the Akhtamar Catholicos and the Vartabed at Hokotzvank Monastery
made representations on his behalf. Shakir then submitted to the Vilayet authorities,
lie received reproof and advice, and Avas dismissed on the guarantee of one of his
frier ds and* promises of amendment.
Tavo months ago I AA as told that Shakir was continuing oppression and misconduct,
and on asking precisely what, heard that he had committed the offences mentioned at
the end of section 28 in the list of offences. Corrections that should be made
here are:—
For “ from Purbedalan forty sheep,” read “ from Armenian villagers of Purbedalan
forty sheep and 8 4 chaps ’ wheat.”
For “from Makasik village eight trees,” read “eighty trees cut down at
Makoshk.”
For “ 100 carpenters,” read “ 100 ‘ ustas,’ presumably masons.”
I cannot but say that these allegations appeared to be somewhat exaggerated, or
that the source from which obtained was one which ought not to be regarded as devoid
[170]
See Memorandura attached.
F