'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia' [‎655v] (1312/1386)

18
has been depicted. If one person (from among them) does an evil deed, a thousand
peaceable and orderly persons gain an ill repute. Be it known to you lor certain that
this has all been caused by the laches of the Turkish and Persian authorities, for
Kurdistan is in the midst between these two countries, and both Governments, lor their
own reasons, do not distinguish between good and evil characters. It is thus that bad
characters remain unreformed, and respectable people get an ill repute, and become
ruined. Among other evil things, you have probably heard of the tribe o I Ali Agha
Shekak, who are famous for their evil and ruin-causing deeds—ruinous alike to native
and foreign sects, Mahommedans and others. Every Government has heard oi their
wicked doings. Owing to neglect or want of power on the part of Persia, these people will
never be civilized, and will remain in their savage state. The evil deeds of the Harkee
tribe, who are Turkish subjects, are also apparent. The Ottoman Government also,
like the Persian, either has not the means of civilizing these people or else neglects
them. Kurdistan has got a bad reputation, and has been disgraced. Distinction is
not made been peaceable and evil-disposed persons. The Chiefs and Rulers of
Kurdistan, whether Turkish or Persian subjects, and the inhabitants of Kurdistan, one
and all are united and agreed that matters cannot be carried on in this way with the two
Governments, and that necessarily something must be done, so that European Govern
ments having understood the matter, shall inquire into our state. We also are a nation
apart. We want our affairs to be in our own hands, so that in the punishment of our
own offenders we may be strong and independent, and have privileges like other
nations; and respecting our offenders, we are ready to take upon ourselves that no
harm or damage shall accrue to any nation. This is our object, and the reasons of my
son’s going to Souj Boulak, so as to obtain inquiry into the state of Kurdistan, and no
mischief occur, otherwise the whole of Kurdistan will take the matter into their own
hands, as they are unable to put up with these continual evil deeds, and the oppression
which they suffer at the hands of the two Governments.
Inclosure 4 in No. 61.
Sheikh Obeidullah to Abbass Mirza {the Moolk Ara).
(Translation.) October 5, 1880.
THE kindness and good-feeling which His Majesty the late King benevolently and
charitably evinced towards my father, and the devotion of my late father to His
Majesty, for whose Government my father continually offered up his sincere prayers
night and day, must certainly be known everywhere and to everybody. Your Royal
Highness is also well aware of the friendship which existed between the late King and
myffather. Now, a proverb says that “ the son is the type of the father,” and again
another proverb says that " mutual love is hereditary.” Now I, for my part, have
never swerved from the duty which has devolved upon me as a moral obligation, and
it therefore behoves your Royal Highness to act in conformity with the sentiments of
his late Majesty, and that you should do so in a Kingly spirit, as your father did,
because in the same way as in former years I was gratified by the favour of the late
Shah, so now my heart is gladdened by the condescension of your Royal Highness.
How very beautiful is the saying, " When the rose fades, and the rose-garden withers,
whence is one to seek the sweetness of the rose except from rose-water ? ”
Finally, Abdul Rahem Beg, who is a person possessing our confidence, will
communicate our messages verbally.
I have no further representations to make.
Inclosure 5 in No. 61.
Precis of Letter from Sheikh Obeidullah to the Ikbal-ed-Dowleh, Governor of Oroomiah,
dated. September 15, 1880.
AFTER compliments, says he dispatches Haja Mollah Ismail to make a verbal
communication to the Governor. He is not unmindful of former obligations, and has
always thought it right to state plainly whatever he considered to be advantageous
to the Persian Government, the latter was free to accept his views or not, as it
pleased.