The New York herald., 1871-08-13
MANECKJEE LIMJEE ATTARIA.
The Persian Minister Complains OF Exagxe'
rated Reports.
from the London Times.

state OF Persia which, they assert, being ravaged
It necessary to attach Importance TO these rumorsS
there Is not time TO contradict all the false news
wacn IS aay pur IN cSSaUn % von on see
compelled to break silence to prevent them from Ob
tanning the semblance Of truth and the authority
which the reputation OF your newspaper would nOt
There nas not been nor is there now any famine
some time, but it was only In the provinces adjoin,
ing the Persian Gulf that 1t was serious. The n0mad
rains the care Of the grain which they SOW In tne
Journeys are always exposed on their return to the
consequences OF a, possible drought yaey navS
means OF subsistence have repaired IN crowds to
the towns: There, oy direction OF His Majesty the
Shah, and at his expense, the means have been
organized Of supplying assistance to this wandering
ana suffering population. With this view puoliC
monuments have been turned 10 account, the places
for administering relief having been chosen ~
preference In the cemeteries, where the monuments
erected in nonOr Of our saints include buildings Of
considerable extent, galleries and cloisters which
are generally resOrted to by dervisnes beggars ana
paupcrs. One OF these in particular, the tomb OF
Haiiz contains as many as 500 poor or infrm per-
sons who have been received and fed there. lu
other places assistance has been given to every.
body coming up and that there may be no disorder
the police have organized Gordon OF guards round
them. 1t there, doubtless, that imaginative
newsmOngcrs saw the guards charged with prevent
ing the peasants from digging up the dead bodies
These details relate exclusively to the southern
Measure Of the extent Of the dearth, the price Of
provisions ut the various places which nave SUI
fered Let us admit that small as these prices may
appear in Europe they are eXorbltant Tor Persia In
ordinary seasons. The dates belong TO the tWc
months when, according to the European tele2rams.
the sufferings IRON famine must have been Severe:-
At the commencement OF June at TaDriz 10 lbs. oil
bread cost 6Oc 10 lbs. OF beeI IL Soc; 10 lbs OF
RICE IT. 60c.; 10 lbs. barley, soc; 10 lbs milk, SOC;
10 lbs chick peas IT,: 10 lbs butter CT. Soc. 10 lbs.
sugar ST.; 10 lbs. treacle, If. o0c.
At the commencement Of June at Ispahan 500 lbs.
OF wheat cost lSOf.. and lbs. OF bread II. 25c.
This price, the newspapers state is falling daily
sNfa nj nQrU
At Kachan, on June l. the price OF 500 lbs. OF
wheat was 1857; Of 500 lbs OF barley, l2of, and o.
is lbs OF rce 81 On June % the price OF 500 lbs Of
wheat was lo5f.; of 500 lbs. Of barley 9of aud OF IL
lbs OF bread, IT. 6Oc. :
There will he observed a palpable reduction In the
price OF wheat which was sold at 1851. per 100 los
has necessarily increased wherever the harvest ap.
preached had begun. Let 1t also be observed that
the deartn mas only broken out IN the districts me-
toned, ana That everywhere else an abundant sup
ply has maintained ordinary prices.
AS regards cholera there is occasion to take any
exceptional notice OF Ii. Every year at the period
OF excessive heat the imprudent consumption OF
fruit gives rise to certain number OF cases. and
this number has not been exceeded in any remarKa-
BILE proportion. see in the rcheran ne ewspaper the
following statement, which give cer6dlfn:-"1t Is
said that cholera prevails at Teheran. l see nothing
kilograms about the cholera, which Is said to be
decmatlng the population, do not hesitate to seek
trivial cause can only see In them the wretched
expedent OF some agent Of commercial house, or
graphs who has been detained at Teheran during
the insupportabe hot season. while hs colleagues
or friends have gone to the neghDOring mountains
in search OF cooler atmosphere, and who has en-
dcavored by publicity TO inspire such fears to supply
motive for MS departure rom Teneran, or to sc
ward Tor having remained at his post under such
painful circumstances.
with regard to the plague, what is said Is lie.
THIS word has the advantage or being the only ex
act reply, and, by its brevity, Of not abusing the
hospitality Of your columns.
The statements which have Just made are derived
from my latest correspondence and from the diIer
ent numbers or the Ldn, journal ueservedy
esteemed at Teheran. ] hold these documents &C
the disposal OF any one who desires TO know the
truth. have in my hands the neces sary means Of
opposing the most formal denial TO allegations
such as those published yesterday In your paper.
Besides, are there not at Teheran legations or
various nations, and telegraphlc Offices open all
Can the truth not be easily lcarneds II Is In the
interest OF that truth beg you Will be good enough
to this letter In your honorable journal. Re
ceye the assurance. &C.,
II. CH. MoHSlN KHAN Minister OF Persia.