Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1871-08-09
The Cannibals Of the Khorassan.

In the last year but one OF the thlr-
teenth century Persia was devasted by a
famine and plague which has had no
rival to historical notice in that region
until the present year but if Mr.. Alb
bolt, the highly intelligent British Con-
sui at Tabreez, has not fallen for once in
to extravagant exaggeration, the plague
which runs riot in 1871 will even surpass
in devastation that of 1899.
Confirmation of this horrible report
comes from many sources. 1t comes
officially to the British government from
their agent at Tabreez-than whom no
one has better opportunity of knowing
Persian affairs. The Turkish govern
ment have also obtained such informa-
ton as to justify the establishment by
them of Gordon sdnitdire along their
frontier, and we may expect to hear by
way of st. Petersburg in few days
further confrmatory dispatches from
Tifis. .... -.
While this is the second great famine
since the middle ages which has desolat-
ed the land of Cyrus and Darius, it
would be difficult to point out period
when famine, social anarchy, religious
turmoil, or foreign invasion had not
rendered Persia well nigh uninhabitable.
From the day of sthe Seuukian Turks
and Genghis Khan to those of Nadir
Shah, El-Bab, and Nassr- Ed-Din, Persia
has been in state of permanent desola-
lation. No nation that was once great is
at present in such state of decadence.
A very impartial writer says "The pop
ulation of Persia is believed to be stead
lily declining in numbers owing to the
ravages of the plague, the general abb
sence of sanitary laws, the results OF
polygamy, and various other not well as
certained causes"
The present plague and famine appear
to have broken out in the Land OF the
Sum-" Khorassan, celebrated in Moore's
famous poem
"The delightful province Of the sun,
The first Of Persian lands he shines upon.
1t is Just as likely that it was in more
distant region the plague broke out, al
though first reported from this place
Khorassan is in some respects to the in
habitants of Paris or London, wha
Duluth or the Fond du Lac region is t.
New Workers or Brooklynites. 1t is a
the most distant point of the Caspian
Sea. 1t is Just south of Khiva and north
east of Afghanistan. 1t is to the east o
Teheran, and is furthest removed from
Tabreez of all the Persian provinces
It's southern part is sandy desert, ant
there are also there salt steppes. Tn
other portions of the province include
hills and tolerably fertile valleys. Doubt
less but for the nomadic character of tn
people the region could support all it
inhabitants As is well known the pur
Persian race, consisting of about l, 200,
900 people, frequent the town, Will
the other inhabitants Of Persia, consist
ing of about three and one half millions
are tribes of Turks, Arabs, LEX, Koord
ish, &c. In the Khorassans the pure Per
slams are very few. But the plague ant
famine do not appear to be confined +
Khorassan the proclamation OF tn
Governor of Shiraz is proof of this
+ That town is at the south of the king
I dom, on the direct road from the Gas
, plan to the Persian Gulf, on line wit
Teheran and Ispahan. 1t forms tn
; apex of a triangle of which Tabreez Q
4, Tebriz-incorrectly telegraphed Sabri
and the capital of Khorassn, Meschhed
are the other points. This triangle is a
most equilateral. The sanitary cordo
which the Turks are said to have estat
, lished ought to run from the mouth Q
the Tigris and Euphrates at the head 9
the Persian Gulf, to Kars. A littl
south of this the Russian government
q could establish another line runnin
! eastward to the Caspian Sea. Thes
' lines, properly guarded, would complete
! ly hem in the plague SO far as that Nigh
3 be done by quarantine.