The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-04-27
THE hURDs AND THEIR WAYS.
A Persian Missionary Describes the Gus
toms of avery Intolerant Race.

toms ofavery Intolerant Race.
Yarroo NJ. Neesan, handsome Per-
sian who is studying for missionary
service in his country, tell some in
tresting facts about his native land.
Mr.. Neesan is dark skinned, wears a
black moustache and has bright intell-
igent eyes. He does not look very
different from an American.
There are only three newspapers in
Persia" he says. 1.-THE women are
unedcuated and can't even read. In
village of $50 inhabitants, in which |
once lived, man began to teach his
wife her letters. The neighbors jeered
at him on the streets and went and re-
viled the wOnan's parents, telling them
that their daughter was being made
lawyer The nuisance became so in
tolerable that the parents finally had to
take the wife away. They did not
allow her to 90 back to her husband un-
till he signed contract pledging him
self not to interest himself any further
in her intellecu ii deye . lment.
"They are getting more tolerant of
Christianity" he went on. Formerly
when MahOmetan killed n Christian
he was fined $l5. Now he has to pay
$50 for the same privilege. If Ma
and convert her to his religion, when
her father dies he inherits his property
to the exclusion of all other heirs.
This causes 81 great run after the
daughters eff rich Christians even when
they're not pretty. | Mahometan,
when out walking, meets Christian on
horseback, The latter has TO surrender
his steed aud allow the follower of the
Prophet to ride to his destination.
Il -
They are warlike and ferocious The
women are very lr5tty, though living
out in tents and drinking nothing but
water. A Kurd is not allowed wife
until he is a practiced robber | know
case where tho son of a Kurd, who
had never had occasion TO steal, fell in
love with girl. but her father laughed
at his suit because no could neither
burgle nor pick pockets. The Kurd
Went to his aged parent for advice
My SON, said the old man, get up al
sunrise and steal some sheep and COWS
from your own pastures. Drive them
through the village, and everyone will
suppose you have stolen them.' This
the young man did, but on has way t(
the village he fell in with some rea
bandits, who so admired his pluck, fOl
they BELOVED no had stolen tho animals
that they made him one of their mum
Der, and he became real thief and go
the girl too.
"When Kurd wants to Join a banC
of thieves, the chiefs stand him on
rock and make him swear by the bearC
of the Prophet that he is not standing
on a rock. This lsin order to give hin
chance to show what a liar he is, l
he cannot stand the test no is rejected
II he uoes stand il he is next made Il
swear tina. he Is not among the Thieves
and has meyer met any in his life
This is to see if no would be able Co III
with a straight face If the Phillisulne
caught him.
among the Persians, the first time
man is caught stealing he is bastina ioet
and made to sign paper to the effec
that robbery has no more attraction
for him. With the soles OF his fee
smarting from the bastnado he
usually willing TO do this. At the nom
emit the statment is often true. If he b
caught second time his hands are Gu
off, and ii a third time he is deeapitated,
MIR. Neesan speaks twelve languages
He is being taught English, Greek an,
Latin at Annandale, New York, wher
he has been three years. He Will re
main three more years in this country
two of which will be passed in the
illogical seminary in New York. AT tn
expiration OF that time he will return
Persia as missionary of the Protestau
Episcopal Church. He was born
Assyria, about eighty miles from Nil
even, but when he was young his PAL
ents were compelled through persecution
to take refuge in Persia. He was
school teacher in that country, with
wife and child, but he tore himse
away from everything, in order that b
become qualified to Improve his coul
trJ men.