"ملاحظات اللورد كرزون عن بلاد فارس" [و‎‎٦‎٥‎٥] (١٣٨٦/١٣١١)

47.
with four regiments; that other forces are being hurried on towards Maindob to repel
Sheikh Abdul mader, and that an army is being concentrated at Khoi.
In my previous correspondence with your Excellency and Her Majesty’s Foreign
Office have continually pointed out the danger which would accrue to the Persian
Government and to the Christian populations in these regions if Sheikh Obeidullah
were allow ed to acquire unlimited influence amongst the Kurdish tribes within the
Persian holder, but the Persian Government did not appear to consider the danger to
be imminent. The latter now makes no secret of his intentions. His project is to
place himself at the head ol a Kurdish Principality, and to annex the whole of
Kurdistan both in Turkey and Persia.
I he American missionaries inform me that they are on very friendly terms with
Sheikh Obeidullah, and that they do not apprehend that he would molest the Christians
of Oroomiah were obliged to surrender to his armies. The missionaries have written
to him requesting that he will respect the lives and property of the Christian populations
during his present campaign, and suggested that I should adopt the same course; but
I have declined doing so, considering that it would not be suitable for me to hold any
communication whatsoever with a Kurdish Chief who is invading the dominions of the
Shah. I prefer to await the course of events, and trust that the speedy arrival here
of reinforcements will relieve the Ikbal-ed-Dowleh from his present embarrassing
condition.
I have, &e.
(Signed) WILLIAM G. ABBOTT.
Inclosure 2 in No. 61.
Sheikh Obeidullah to Dr. Cochran.
(Translation.) September 25, 1880.
YOU have no doubt heard how that in former years the Shuja-ed-Dowleh caused
fifty of my dependents to be beheaded, without fault or crime, and caused me damage
to the extent of 100,000 tomans.
Neither the Ottoman nor the Persian Government have purity of intention. They
have not gone into any of our rights. Besides this, he beat Farajullah Khan, the son
of Hajji Ghafoor Khan, who was one of the Ushnoo Chiefs, in such a manner that he
died. Last year also the Mo'een-ed-Dowleh took Abdullah Khan and Ibrahim Khan,
of Ushnoo, lining them 20,000 tomans; thus utterly ruining their families. He also
took three women captive. This year the Governor of the Mikri district took
Feizullah Beg, punishing him also, although without fault, and lined him 1,500 tomans.
He also took some Tunkoos women by force from their husbands. During the last
short time the Governor of Souj Boulak invited Hamzah Mankoori, who is a Chief of
several tribes in those parts, under the pretence of showing confidence in him, but in
reality with the object of imprisoning and confining them. He made his escape out
of the room, killing two men on his way, and with much difficulty freed himself. The
result of this kind of occurrences of violence and oppression cannot be described. It is
because of these kind of things that Kurdistan is obliged to be, and is, under the
necessity of being united, and can (no longer) put up with any such base and ruinous
acts. We therefore earnestly beg of you that you will fully inform, and explain the
matter to, the British Consul atTabreez, so that, please God, the case of Kurdistan
being understood, it may be inquired into. Hajji Ismail is therefore sent to explain
the matter referred to.
Inclosure 3 in No. 61.
Sheikh Obeidullah to Dr. Cochran.
(Translation.) October 5, 1880.
I SEND Mollah Ismail to explain, confidentially, as I have verbally explained to
him the state of affairs here, and I specially request that you W ill inform the English
Government of the facts of the case in Kurdistan, and respecting the going of my son
to Souj Boulak.
The Kurdish nation, consisting of more than 500,000 families, is a people apart.
Their religion is different (to that of others), and their laws and customs are distinct.
It is known among all nations as mischievous and corrupt. This is how Kurdistan