Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-08-11

The Great Famine in Asia Minor.

KARMAN, Asia Minor, July IA
mere passer-by sees but little Of the dis
tress which is, alas still very great,
Everywhere the harvest is magnificent;
one rides for days together through
fields of wheat and barley-as fine as in
any part of the world, and the cheap
ness of provisions is, to a European,
very remarkable; but mix a little with
the people, especially the villagers, and
you will soon find out the real state OF
things. In all the places I have visited
there is the same piteous tale of ruin
and death. The rich are now poor, the
poor are dead or have emigrated, the
few who yet linger around their homes
manage to prolong life by the charitable
help Of others only shade better off
than themselves, in short, the fire has
burnt itself out. It is true that in a
few weeks the incoming harvest will
remedy much of this, and, at least,
the people will not die of hunger, as
thousands upon thousands-I am reluc-
tant to mention the number given to me
have died during those terrible years
1878 and 1874. But in the interim the
distress is very dreadful, and these poor
people know not whittier to turn for
help.
In this great pastoral district it is not
SO much the bad harvests which have
ruined the people as the loss of all, OF
nearly all, their hocks and herds during
the severe winter Of 1873 4, when deep
snow lay on the ground for fully four
months, and no food could be had for
the starving animals. Previous to 1874
the people in the interior were in the
most comfortable circumstances. Their
focks and herds formed their wealth
and how considerable that was may be
judged of by the account of their losses
subjoined, in the case of few villages
I visited. Now, they have literally
nothing left. Four days back 1 rode
for nearly five hours through an abso-
lutely solitary district. The villages
were there, but there was not man,
not sheep, not even goat to be seen.
It was as lonely as Il / had been at sea.
Yesterday, again, I had the same expe-
rience for four and half hours. 1t is
only onapproaching Karamen that there
are any signs CT prosperity.
I have obtained from some of the vii
layers with whom I made acquaintance
the following losses.
Olokishla-a large village at the head
of the great pass leading down to the
Cicilian pIain-consisted formerly of
400 houses; of these only 100 are left.
the rest are deserted, their inhabitants
either died of famine COVE used to find
them dead all about the mountains, !"
said my Informant or they only es-
capped to perish of typhus and dysentery
at Adona and Tarsus. The village once
possessed $4,000 sheep and about 1000
goats; of these about 5 per cent. re-
main. Twelve hundred COVE and oxen
persisted. The village population was
reduced by 1000 souls. Of these how
many were dead could not be exactly
ascertained, but by far the largest por-
ton. Tchaian a village on the edge of
the plain of Lycaonia. had once 800
houses, with population of 1900
souls; of these about 500 were dead. It
was inscribed on the government regis
ter as possessing 10000 sheep; all are
dead. It had about 800 COWS and oxen,
and 800 camels; some $50 in all
survive. They died of hunger.
There was no straw, owing to the bad
harvest; and the snow lay 4 feet deep
for five months. ga horse-load of
straw (samanl cost so piastres'' (about
10 shillings). The men used to go out
into the mountains to cut the little
grass they could from under the frozen
snow; but they could not get enough. F."
They made many complaints to the
Government through the Governor of
Koniah. At last an order came to give
to each head of a family four and half
bushels (kilehs) of wheat and barley
mixed. They did receive part of this,
and some wheat for seed, the latter as
debt. But no oxen were given, and
consequently very little, indeed, of the
land could be sowed. lThis year they
have better prospects, but they are
heavily indebted. They hope two
good harvests will enable them to clear
this off. But even should this years
harvest be good, it will only enable
them to replace their oxen, etc., for
next years sowing.
Bektik is large village near Eregl.
OF its 400 families, 50 are known to have
persisted; 200 have emigrated, chiefly to
Adana, but of these many died en- route,
and nothing is known of the survivors.
Very significant was one observation J
heard: "Of the little children who died
no account was taken" The village
was registered as possessing 10000
sheep and goats. All are dead. They
died of hunger, owing to a bad winter. I"
OF l, 100 oxen and 1900 COWS, only about
200 remain. bna lida 4I.l.i baa s
coula cite the cases of many other
villages, I will end with the worst.
Deviah, of Lycayinia, was before the
famine a very considerable village of
about 700 houses; 200 only are now left,
all the rest are ruined and deserted.
myself saw whole quarter Of the place
in ruins. tt possesses very extensive
pastoral district, consisting of rounded
marble hills with much grass, but little
arabic land. and is four to seven hours
ride distant from any other village.
The scarcity began IN 1873. There was
no rain; but it was the winter of 1874
which ruined them. They possessed
$4,000 sheep, all persisted. They had
400 pairs of oxen, about 5 per cent are