'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia' [‎671v] (1344/1386)

80
and that the payment of a war indemnity has been claimed by Persia from the Kurdish
Chiefs, many of whom have now returned to the allegiance of the Shah.
There is no certain intelligence of Hamza Aga, the Mangour Chief, nor of the
expedition (composed, it is said, of four regiments and some irregular cavalry, under
General Hassan Ali Khan Affshar) which has been sent, I understand, against him.
It is reported that the Sepeh Salar will proceed shortly to Oroomiah. Erom the
inclosed Report, sent to me by one of the missionaries, it would appear that Sunnis,
Shiahs, and Christians have suffered considerably in that district. The Sepeh Salar
will doubtless inquire into these matters, and take such measures as may be needful.
Inclosure 2 in No. 86.
Extract from a Letter addresseed to Consul-General Abbott.
Oroomiah, November 30, 1880.
TAIMUR PASHA’S men were as bad as Kurds in their wholesale pillaging and
outrages.
The Sunnis—5,000 families, it is said, in Oroomiah—are utterly broken up, except
a few villages that have changed their faith to Shiah. They arc in the valleys and
hamlets of the mountains, in great want, and must die of hunger and cold. Many of
the men have been killed. A great many Shiah villages were destroyed by the Kurds,
and many of the men killed. .
Of the Christians, the statistics we have thus far show that twenty-seven villages
were sacked, mostly by Kurds, Shekoiks, and Sunni subjects of Persia; some by
Taimur Pasha’s men and by the Shiahs.
The worst case is Gavilan : seventy-five families robbed of everything, and six
men killed. The next, Charbash: over 100 families robbed, and four persons killed.
In all, about 400 families are in great destitution from being pillaged.
Inclosure 3 in No. 86.
Consul-General Abbott to Mr. Thomson.
(Extract.) Tabreez, December 15, 1880.
THE Vali Abd has received intelligence from the Sepeh Salar, who hoped to
reach Oroomiah'on the 12th instant.
According to a statement made by a regimental scribe, the expedition sent
against the Mangour tribe had returned to camp after totally destroying Hamza
Aga’s villages. The same person reports that large numbers of the Mangours have
been killed, others taken captive; that 1,000 camels and much booty—a great part
of which had been plundered by the tribe from Maragha and Heshterood—have been
recaptured by the Persian troops, who sacked and burnt Hamza’s house, massacring
sixteen of the inmates, women and children included. It is said that Hamza and his
wife succeeded in effecting their escape.
The preceding intelligence doubtless needs confirmation.
Inclosure 4 in No. 86.
Consul-General Abbott to Mr. Thomson.
(Extract.) Tabreez, December 16, 1880.
REPORTS prevail here, but need confirmation, that Turkish troops having
prevented Hamza Aga from crossing the frontier, his position is now closely besieged
by the Persians, and that Sheikh Obeidullah is under arrest in Turkish territory, but
requests permission to plead his cause before a Medjliss. This would probably mean,
if true, before the Turkish and Persian Commissioners.