The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-11-11
ONE NIGHT OF TERROR.
EXPERIENCE OF a TRAVELLER IN.
AN uNcIvLlzED LAND.

Jcurneyins Through Knrdistan He Makes
Halt Among Very Strange Tribe
Awakened from n Sound Sleep He Is
Robbed snd Left Naked and Hound.
Talk about experiences that turn
ones hair gray in night, said gem
Sleman whose curling locks were as
black as the traditional ravens wings.
Il had one once which. according to the
authorities, ought to have made me not
only gray, but baldheaded, if the ira
ditions are right. which don't believe
they are.
1T was in Kurdistan that lny experi
ence occurred was travelling through
that forsaken country merely for the
purpose of seeing it. and / was accom-
panied by but two men-Jean, French
servant, com bining in his own PERSONAL
ity all the excellencies of cook and valet
and Prussian guide named Multi
whom had engaged for the trip. We
had two horses and an ass, which Jean
rode and on which he carried the uten
sils necessary to the cuisine We had
been in Kurdish territory for four days,
had passed through several villages, and
was just beginning to think the Kurds
were a pretty decent sort for half saw
age people, when one night we came TO a
little town that 1 never succeeded in
finding on any map. and decided to
put up for the night.
Il saw the head man OF the village
and despite the fact that be was as vii
lainous a ruffian as | had ever met, his
words We're those of welcome and hospi-
tality. Now had never heard of actual
brigandage among the Kurds. who, while
they are semibarbaric and fierce, are es-
sentially a race of shepherds and small
farmers So when the head man as
signed me hut felt remarkably secure
and rather thankful, despite the fact that
| knew should have to pay literally for
my accommodations, bought sheep.
and Jean soon transformed it into a
savory stew. Supper over. smoked a
few pipes, and rolling myself in trav-
cling rug lay down on a cot of i'll smell
ing sheepskins to sleep.
AWAKENED FROM SLEEP
4 did sleep. and soundly, too The
first awakening had was when shrill
shrek rang in my ears, and jumped up
to find myself surrounded by burly ruff
ans, armed with ferocious looking
knives. and to see one of their number
withdraw his ensanguined blade from
the breast of my Persian guide, who lay
as he had fallen on awakening, across
his pallet. Jean was in the grasp of two
more of the party. and SO frightened
that he could not speak. | was sure at
first that they intended nothing less than
TO instantly dispatch both of us, but as
heard them parleying and disputing
gathered hope. They ransacked the
place. took everything we had except
our trousers. tied us tightly and departed
''The hut was entirely cleaned out as
far as our effects were concerned-port-
manteaus. revolvers. rugs, coats: even
Jeans cooking utensils were gone. In
agony lay till daybreak. and then.
hearing some one passing, shouted at
the top of my voice A Kurd entered.
and he was not of the visiting party of
the night before Now | didn't know
word of Kurdish, and poor Mufti was
dead. finally made him to understand
that l wanted to be released. but he
only grinned and shook his head Then,
remembering the name of the chief. |
repeated it several times He finally
shuf1ied off, leaving me in an agony of
suspense as to whether he intended GO 70
20 that parsonage or not. After half IN
hours wait however. the chief appeared
He gave some order and we were im,,,.
diately cut loose
'Once my hands were free | succeed
ed IN explaining to him finally by panto-
mime what had occurred He seemed
20 understand. and sent for some one
else
HELP FROM FRIENDS.
The party sent for appeared event
ually He wasn't a Kurd. but Il Persian,
and he spoke little French. told
him of the outrage and he told the chief,
Then he replied to me that the chief said
ne could do nothing, as the robbers must
be OF another band or village. This |
greatly doubted, as was sure had seen
two at least of my assailants lettering
around when we arrived. but of that
deemed it best not to speak implored
the chief to give me an escort back to
the last town ! had left and where two
Englishlnen and their retinue were stop
ping ! knew one of the Englishmen.
and promised to amply reward him if he
would do He finally consented to
that and furnished me with u guide and
two asses upon my swearing.to him that
| would pay the man. he also agreeing
II he could get track of our assailants to
visit summary punishment on them.
so Jean and | finally set out, and the
next day. hstless. coatless, penniless and
nearly starved arrived at the head town
of the section. where borrowed some
supplies from my friend, paid the Kurd
who had accompanied rs about ten dol
lars OF American money in Persian sill
yer. and whence. rehabilitated in bor-
rowed raiment, we set off for the Persian
frontier l afterward learned that our
friends of the Kurdish village We're no
torious robbers and murderers. and that
the chief himself had been seen later
my, <.1a< o,,<1