, 1877-08-11

- U OAA WHICH i VG&tI
situated, aud although only moant for temporary
occupation, have closed gOrges Kupri Keui 10
q Christian village, and as euch suffers more or
less from the conduct of the battalion quarteTed
iu its vicinity. Indeed, while we were 81 break.
fast we were disturbed by much bowling and
shouting, several Christians running mp towards
us. On inquiry we found that q Turkish sol.
der had, just at that moment, shot an Armenian
(iu whose house be had been living for a month)
through the head with his revolver, killing him
on the spot. Our Zoptiehs Of course, said the
affair was an accident but our Christian SER
wants, who We're close by when it occurred,
said that there was dispute about a bride,
when the Ztp,ieh drew his revolver and shot
the poor fellow through the head, killing him
instantly. l believe the Lieutenant Colonel
commanding OF Kupri-Keui will hold an in
quiry into the occurrence. After breakfast We
pushed on along the Lit bank Of the Araxes to
Khorassan, reaching il at S p. m. Here we
found excellent quarters ia the telegraph ofbces
and Sir Arnold determined on making it his
headquarters for some short time.
Eneamped in the plain, just in front Of our
window, are the two battalions and the two
mountain guns which have jnst fallen back from
Gusentab an outpost on the Araxes, whence q
road brsuched off to Kars, and where there is
wooden bridge. Here we met a number OF
CircassiOn ho1 semen es%cortiDg sick aud wound
ed to Erzeroum. They gave US details of the
fight at Beghli Ahmad. a village situated about
Is miles southwest Of Kars. According to their
accounts 1000 Circassians, commanded by
Moosa Pasha. moved out to attack the Russian
cavalry, who numbered Is regements. After
a sharp skirmish, owing to ammunition run
ming out (for these meE are all armed by the
Turkish Government with Winchester re-
peating rihes) they were forced to retire,
having about 80 killed. They complain
of the want Of leaders, and boast that 1t
they only had six good ha ttalions aud a good
commander they would drive the RuSsians
back to Gumri. According TO some accounts
the enemy prior to the fight brought up 5000
infantry, mounted behind the Dragons, and,
having posed them in a very good position
sent the cavalry onward. These fell hack before
the Circassians, and thus drew them into the
ambuscade so cleverly prepared, when. being
exposed to the infantry fire, they were forced
10 retire. These men say that all the Circassians
on the Russian side are most disafected, and
that many are coming into Turkish headquarters
daily. They remind me much OF the better
class of Pathians, on the North. West %fronliaP
of India; simple and unaffected 10 their man.
ner, gallant in their bearing, talking With
perfect freed ON and openness, they easily win
the hearts Of all Englisbmen with whom they
come in contact. They have the making Of
excellent Irregular Cavalry tn0ugn l FANCY
the hand :hat held them in would requirs 9
strong steel glove over the kid covering. They
are we'll armed with their own native sword
and pistol aud the Winchester oarbine SUPP
Piled by the Turkish Government. Mnkhtar
Pasha has altogether about 1900 OF these psa
but only about 1900 we're engaged in the
Beghli-Ahmad affair on the 2sth ult. In COM
mon with all Turkish cavalry, they are
mounted on small, undersized ponies~wi;ys
hardy animals, but dreadfully over-weighted ;
and though possessing great endurance. without
any speed whatever. III cir raddIery IL Of the
rudest descrip'ion-oord. reins, tape brides.
huge wooden saddles, like ~bowdahs, With 0
s~heepskin coat strapped on the camille, two
large holsters on the pOmmelS, and rough
leather saddle bags complete their equipment.
Each man. however, carries 10 addition Q
whip, and many lead q spare poLy.
On the 4th, finding myself % close to Mukh.
tar Pasha. / determined to pay him q visit, 90
Lieutenant D0ugall and myself left Khorassan
after breakfast. and escorted by a Zaptieh-who
was stupid even for his classified to find our
way by a cross country and abort cut to levin.
Of course orr escort prOfessed to know the
road perfectly we'll, and. of course. be was &c
ignorant of the geography of the district as he
vas of the binomial theorem although We
rode pretty fast, it was not until 4 p. m. that
we found ourselves opposite the Generals tent.
His Chief Of the Stat, Faizi Pasha General