"دليل بلاد فارس. مجلد I" [و‎‎٢‎٧‎٤] (٨٢٠/٥٦٤)

(Sh
MES-MES
525
Much has been written by earlier travellers respecting the roguery and
fanaticism prevalent at Meshed. With regard to the former accusation,
it is probab’e that matters stand to-day much as they did in earlier years.
The presence of a number of credulous and emotional pilgrims must neces
sarily breed—in other countries as well as in Persia—a host of greedy
adventurers who look to the pilgrim as a source of livelihood, and the
system of temporary marriages permitted to the latter dui’ing their stay
in the Holy City is little less than legalized prostitution on a large scale.
As to the fanaticism, although undoubtedly present and to a great
extent difficult to gauge in its consequences, it is probable that it has been
in no small degree exaggerated, and the leaven of the Sunni sect undoubt
edly acts as a check on the more fanatical of the Shi’ah population. It
may well be considered that the Anti-Armenian riots which occurred during
the Mukarram festival of 1905, and which were chiefly engineered by the
Karabaghi Turks in revenge for the death of their countrymen at the hands
of Baku Armenians, would have assumed a far more serious complexion
than was actually the case had the inherent fanaticism of the people of
Meshed been of a virulent character. ♦
In addition it may be mentioned that the Europeans resident at Meshed
have hitherto enjoyed complete immunity from insult or violence at the
hands of the inhabitants.
At all times a floating population composed o c the pilgrims to the Shrine
. of Imam R : za is to be found in the city. No
Pilgrims. • , j. . . J
means exist of ascertaining their exact
numbers, but it may be taken that during the seasons favourable for
travel, the number present at any given time does not fall far short of
10,000, while during the winter, their total wou 1 d hardly exceed 1,000.
The administration of Meshed, exclusive, of course, of the Bast, is vest-
j * ed in the Governor-General of Khorasan who
resides m the citadel, the Beglerbegi, assist
ed by; a no means large staff of farrashes, is more immediately responsible
for the order of the city, such policing as exists being carried out by his
men and by the soldiers in the various qardual khdnehs.
The Belgian Director-General of the Khorasan Customs, assisted b 7
three Belgian officials and a subordinate Persian Staff, is resident at
Meshed.
Meshed city is assessed at *tumdns 30,200 mallal paid in cash. The
„ Customs revenue of Meshed is now included in
nevonue. fche total for Khorasan.
In 1889, both a British and a Russian Consulate-General were estab-
„ . „ , , lished at Meshed. The European Staff of the
I oreign Consulate t „ • . r .i ^ i/^ i
former normally consists of the Consul-General,
* Vice-Consul and Agency Surgeon, and a Military Attache. An escort of
some 25 Indian savdrs is attached to the Consulate-General.
*The Governor-General gives the revenue of Meshed city:
Ts.
30.000
200
35.000
Artisans .,
Gipsies
Nishapur mines paid at Heshod