The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-26 00:00:00

THE TURKS IN ASIA.

Mr. Taylor, her Majesty's consul for Kurdistan,
his transmitted to the Foreign-office a report on a
recent tour he has taken in various provinces of
Asiatic Turkey. Leaving Erzeroum, and passing
through the Terjau Kuzier, he found a generally
thriving population, though interfered with by
thievih neighbouring tribes. Some villages were
at the moment assailed by a party of Circassians,
not to be confounded with the Tchetchens, though
characterised, like them, by a system of wholesale
pilfering -and brigandage. Backed by powerful
personages, they had represented to the councils of
Erzeroum and Erzingau that these villages were
deserted, or had only a few inhabitants who har-
boured robbers ; and so carelessly are many impor-
tant matters disposed of that without further in-
quiry these Circassians obtained an order making
over the villages and surrounding lands to them.
Passing on to that part of the kairnakamlik of Erzin-
gau, which lies south of the Kara Su (Erzeroum
c:nudn ei
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able atel e-
Euphratesy),bythteneCnonarsually
impracticable. He de-
scribesKingoheoanrbedirt'earldlace, the majority of whom
Deyvistn, a coantry which is one mass of high
branch of the
abmountains,l
e Kizzilbash
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may be called independent, as, secure in their inac-
cessible or difficult mountains, they pay what duties
they like, refuse recruits, and disobe,y sub-governors
other than those of their own race approved by
themselves. Their mountains, as attested by tradi-
tion and numerous ruins of old churches and build-
ings still existing, were at one time thickly peopled
by an extensive and exclusive Armenian population,
subsequently ejected by the Kizzilbash. The latter
hare since existed there, in this independent state,
for at least 400 years. There are two races, the
Seyd Hassanaulees, the descendants of older moun-
taineers, and the Deyrsiadees, a later immigration,
and they are generally at war with one another, but
always ready to unite against an enemy hostile to
their general interests, and are probably able to
bring 25,000 matchlocks into the field. Their
numbers, combined with a hereditary hatred,
derived from their religious views, for all
Moslems of the Sunin creed, whom they
designate as Turcos, are large enough to be a
constant source of uneasiness to Government, and
to intimidate the peaceable villagers of other sects
in their neighbourhood, or within reach of their in-
defatigable thieves and brigand bands, who levy
black-mail from each village and ravage the public
roads between Eggin and Arabkir and Erzingau and
Erzeroum. The chiefs are rich in their own rude
way, but the great majority hopelessly poor, from
the large amount they areYearlyakliged to give their
aghas, who take a fifth of their agricultural produce
and a certain amount of sheep, butter, and money
annually. Their religion is a curious mixture of Is-
lamism, Christianity, and Paganism, and they wor-
ship the sun, large t , 8 Ones and trees, and profess
many other doctrines originally derived from the
Kerametta and Assasins, who rose in the third cen-
tury of the llejret, common to the Noseyrees and
Druses of Mount Lebanon and other parts of Syria.
In this jumble of religions Ali holds the first place, but
they regard our Saviour with particular respect, as
they in fact believe that he and all the prophets and
holy men, from Adam to Ali, were but different
incarnations of the Deity. Ali, as coming last, they
reverence most, and style him ,6 The word, the un-
created, begotten of light, the lion of God, the per-
fect and the just truth." They are totally ignorant
of reading and writing, and therefore generally
fanatics iu their faith, and in religious matters obey
implicitly the guidance of their spiritual chiefs, called
Deydees (sayers) and Seyeds, who preside at their
prayer meetings, which are held with a secrecy
which has given occasion to scandalous rumours
unfounded in fact. The later immigrant race, the
Seyd Hassananlees, are more' civilised than the
01 ler, and more desirous of knowledge, and have
profited by the teaching of the indefatigable
American missionaries at Kharput ; one of the
most influential chiefs and his followers have
really imbibed Protestant doctrines. But the real
Dey vsimlees, the older mountaineer race, do not
partake in such sentiments, and the Consul fears
they may yet cause disaster to the state to which
they are ostensibly subject. He says there is no
doubt, that in spite of the loyal teaching of the
Americans, the whole Kizzilbash, as a race, are
everywhere disaffected ; and they are to be found
in other districts, and up to Constantinople.
In the event of a Russian aggression upon
Turkey, the enemy might take the easy route of
the rich valley of the Diyadia branch of the