American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-03-09
A Story from Persia--A Speci-
men of Oriental Justice.

The Rev. Arch Priest Cuciago shiver-
ed perceptibly, spite of the warmth of
the reception-room in the Bishops resi-
dence, when he came down to welcome
the reporter this morning. Contrary to
his usual custom, he wore thick and soft
robes of brown cloth, bordered with
Persian silk embroidery.
"Ah,'' he said, in his quick, ,vivacious
French, your country is cold, but the
faithful of your country know how to
give a warm welcome to the stranger
guest from the Orient.''
''Is not the HISTORIAN priesthood
recognized in Persia?''
'The patriarch of the HISTORIAN
Church is practically an Independent
sovereign, having his seat in Koordis-
tan. His jurisdiction enthusiastically ex-
tends over the HISTORIAN Christians of
Persia, and it is policy on the part of
the Cabinet at Teheran to cultivate his
good will. He, too, has to pave the way
to favor with gifts, and the Shah finds
him useful ally, particularly in his re-
lations with Russia.
% Tenez, - he said. Z" L will give you
an instance that occurred a short time
before started for Rome. A wealthy
Christian had very beautiful daugh-
ter. By chance Mussulman of high
position saw her, and desired to add
her TO his already extensive harem. He
applied to her father for her, and was,
of course, Indignantly refused. A few
days afterward the house of the Chris
tian was invaded by a horde of scoun-
drels, headed by the rejected lover, and
the girl abducted. The Christian, mad
with grief, bought his way to the foot
of the Cadi, and laid his grief there.
The Judge ordered the parties to ap-
pear, and the defendant was instructed
TO produce the abducted maiden. A
day was fixed, and the defendant ap-
peared with Il yelled Mohammedan
woman, whom he represented and
swore to be the Christian girl. The
woman, on her part, ,swore that she was
the daughter of the Christian, that she
had long desired to embrace the Mo
hammedan faith, that she had been a
consenting party to the abduction, had
since become one of the four lawful
wives of the abductor, and had been re-
ceived into the Mohammedan fold.
The Christian was at once nonsuited,
heavily fined for attempting to inter-
fere with the faith of a child of the
Prophet, and driven out of court.
Within an hour a host of Mohammedan
officials swooped down upon his house,
confiscated every thing he had in the
world, and drove him and his family
beggars into the street. This is by no
means an isolated case, either" added
Monsignor.
s'How many Christians are there in
Persia?''
About one million. The total pop
ulation is twelve millions. They are
mainly agriculturists, raising rice, bar
ley, cotton, tobacco, ETC., for the Rus
sian market"
- Are taxes highP''
"High! They are simply crushing. A
man raises a crop and has only about
one-twelfth of it for himself after the
local and general Governments have Sc
cured their share. The life of the peas
ant IS that of abject slavery, and yet the
Government is always poor, on account
of the peculation of officials.''
"Have any good results followed the
Shah's visit to European States?"
81 rather think, yes. We have no
reason to complain of the Shah. He
has always conducted himself en- bon
gaycon, and if he could have his way
there would be equal rights, but the
mollahs are too many for him. He has
two many fanatics around him, who de-
stroy the effect of his good intentions
and DEGREES. He actually has tried to
govern better since his return, but his
promises far exceed his performance.
His ideas of enlightenment are crude,
and he is too fond of pleasure to see
that his good intentions are carried out"
Detroit Nez0S.