'General information on Persia for any future edition, 1895' [‎81v] (153/211)

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murder of an Armenian by Hassananli Kurds at Gopal in Khanous. The authorities
are showing* considerable energy in all cases of crime, and several of the olfenders in
robberies and outrages have been brought to justice. In short, with the exception of
the Alashgerd district, the accounts from this vilayet are satisfactory. Even from the
district named no specific cases of disorder or crime have reached my ears, though the
general account is disquieting.
I have, &c.
CHARLES S. SAMPSON.
(Signed)
Inclosure in No. 62.
Vice-Consul Devey to Acting Consul Hampson.
Van, July 4, 1891.
Sir,
IN my despatch of the 22nd ultimo a murder in Garchigan Caza was mentioned;
a deputation of the villagers came from Urans to Van to make complaint of this
outrage, and, following his Excellency the Vali to Arjish, there received personal
assurances as to the measures taken for their protection; meantime, the Chief
Commissary of Police had been sent with the necessary force to make inquiry and to ^
seize the criminals wherever they should be found.
With respect to the robbery of the Russian Dragoman, Yartikis Effendi, in
Abagha, in the first place the offence was committed upon Turkish territory, at the
borders of the Bayazid Sandjak, by Kurds, whose names are known, of the Adiamanli
tribe (a branch numbering 300 tents of the Haideranli Ashiret), and the Alai Beg with
twenty of the gendarmerie was dispatched forthwith from Van to investigate the affair.
This officer succeeded in tracing the stolen property and the offenders, but now Mirza
Agha of the Haideranli (just raised to the rank of Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ), after constructively avowing
that he could produce both if he chose, with intent to shake off all responsibity, has, I
believe, allowed the culprits to seek shelter secretly with the Jellali round about
Bavazid. The Dragoman was escorted by two zaptiehs, and had two or three servants
with him, but the party was possibly straggling, and, on being attacked, one zaptieh ^
took to flight. After a considerable fusillade the Kurds took the remaining zaptieh
prisoner, and also seized the baggage-horse, and another which was wounded, but the
rest of the party had escaped and reached the town of Bayazid in safety. It is
necessary to state that the attack was simply a 6ase of brigandage, the Kurds hoping
to possess themselves of money and valuables, and perhaps a weapon or two; and the
Dragoman, who had passed the previous night at a “ Yaila ” tent, states that the
Kurds there, who were examining his property ominously, and fingering the guns of
his companions, probably meditated theft. Several absurd stories have since been put
in circulation: one is that the robbery was motived by revenge, because several years
ago a Russian courier, or the baggage of the then Consul, M. Kamsaragam, had been
robbed, and a certain Tahir punished therefor. And later also it has been given out
that an attack was being purposely prepared against the person of the Russian Consul. r-
At Akhlat a serious fray lately broke out between Turks and Circassians of the
caza, in which several persons were killed or wounded; Raouf Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , Vali of Bitlis,
has gone to re-establish order.
Mar Shimun, the Nestorian Patriarch, lately complained of violence done in
Berwari again, the home of the late Tatar Khan Bey, and measures are taken to
protect the Rayahs. Amadiyeh Caza is now to be made over to the Mosul Vilayet as
formerly, which is distinctly a better arrangement, geographically and ethnologically,
and will relieve the Van authorities of constant troubles, which are difficult to be
contended with at such a distance.
The Heriki tribe have been committing fresh misdeeds of a serious nature,
probably murder and robbery with violence, on the borders of the Mosul Vilayet.
The offenders took shelter with their kinsmen in Shemdinan, and the Hekkiari
Mutessarif has just gone to that caza to secure them.
I regret to have to report a bad murder of an Armenian, Melik (Melkon), son of
Krikor, who was lately nominated a member of the Idard Council of Mukus
Caza. The murderer is naturally in hiding. In Mukus Caza there are four Beys,
brothers, viz., Abdal, Suleiman, Sheiko, and Sheref, grand-nephews of Khan Mahmud,
who was in revolt and did so much mischief forty years or more ago, upon the intro
duction of the “Tanzimat.” These four were banished as children to Rhodes, but
allowed to return home after five years, since which time (thirty-five years), partly by