The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-07-26
An American Medical Missionary Talks
of His Four Years of Life in Persia.
Government through the Church-Severe
Tunlshments f.r Light 0ffsnsss-Chsr.
acte,iIics OF the People.

Mesopotamia on horseback, through the
Arabian desert and Kurdistan. was first
stationed at Oroomiah. Persia, q distance
Of about eight miles from the lake of that
name. This is a large, fertile plain. with .
climate about like that of Tennessee. 1t Is
quite thickIy populated. chiefly with Kurds
and Turcomana
THE people are'in communities and the
collection of taxes and their government
are largely attended to through the
churches. Tho government does not look
to the individual for his taxes. but goes to
the church or mosque SO much money is
needed and the heads of the church are
called on, instead of the different mem bers.
for the amount. The heads of the church
may Rrnmble; say the demand is excessive;
the amount cannot be raised. This DOESN'T
bother the government very much as 1T at
once proceeds to apply Q simple but effect
i've means of bringing the cash. The
heads OF the church are thrown into prison
and kept there until the members pay the
requirad amount.
$50 far rs treatment is concerned. Mo-
hammedans and Christians stand alike.
When say Christians. do not mean Chris
tians as we know them. but merely n0ini-
inal OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and Armenians.
The MOhammedans of course greatly out
number these. Years ago the Christians
were greatly oppressed by the Mohamme-
dams.
''As an instance, q Christian might be rid
ing a good horse W hich would attract the
notice of MOnsmmedan. You Christian
dog, would cry the follower of the Prophet,
what are you doing on that horses Get
of the animal This has frequently hap
pened and the Mohammedan has ridden
away with the horse. Ii the Christian COM
planned and the government would appear
70 he moving In the matter bride would
fix it all right and no more would be heard
of it. 1t must be said that in recent years
the government deals more justly with Its
citizens. The influeEoe of Americans has
had something to do in bringing this
change about 1t began with American
seeking for justice for those who had been
plundered.
ENGLISH INFLUENCE WANING.
English influence in Persia Is ON the
wane, and everything is turning toward
Russia. The English tobacco monopoly in
Persia had a great deal to do with this
change. The English company holding
this monopoly started an oppressive tax
and Russia broke it down. This served to
popularize Russia. and her influence is
very great now in Persia. The Shah has
even arranged to be represented abroad by
the Russian ministry; that is. he will not
send en- bassadors, but will have Russians
to attend to affairs abroad. England Is not
as greatly distressed about this increase in
Russian influence AZ might be supposed.
She still holds the road to India and keeps
q gun boat in the Tigrls in front OF che ia
mons city of Bagdsd.
.Ihe dishonesty of government officials IL
proverbial in the countries through which
i travelled. i do not think | have ever
seen in either Turkey or Persia O native
who would not take bride. do not say
there are none, but that have never seen
one The result Is, man cannot get
justice without making gifts TO the judges
or rulers of tho courts. 1t often goes SO far
that judges will ask the parties to OWL
SUIT Tor gifts, and the one who makes the
largest present receives the verdict. Tho
expression of the natives regarding such
nm Official-it is a kind of slanR-ls that
man eats, meaning that he reqnires some
thing TO live upon, and 80 takes brides.
There are three appeals from the courts,
first to the local governor. then to the gov
ernor of the province, and lastly TO the
Shah.
There are some peculiar terms of pun
ishment. and those have come down
through many centuries. For instance. II
q man has committed theft he is asked
with which hand the felony was done If
he says the left hand. as he usually does,
The hem0rrhage is stopped by soaring the
stump with q hot iron. The eyes are some-
times pnt out as a punishment for crime.
Last year a man who had committed a
great crime was placed before o cannon
and blown from it's mouth. This took
place in front of the mission-house at
OroomIab, and the missionaries gathered
the pieces of the poor wretch and gave
them burial. The bastina ado is a frequent
punishment, but the most horrible Is that
g oil. ~rss al
stationing guards SO that he may not be
released, leaving him to die. The capital
punishment which Is Dracticed In Persia
has made tho roads comparatively safe,
which is IN contrast with Turkey, where
capital punishment has been abandoned.
PERsIA's PEOPLE.
THE country is beautiful. Around
Oroomiah il reminds one of England, for
the fields are small and well kept, and
there ore hedges of thorn and willow.
while there arc numerous small streams of
water. Many Of the people have pleasant
homes and live very comfortably. There
are few carriages and 10 railways. Most
persons who travel ride on horseback. The
ladies often travel by kachaya, kind of
box with q compartment on each side of
O horse. and with o lady on each side. q can
vas being thrown over them. Here they
talk as they journey at their ease. and
sometimes they knit or sew. 1t Is great
fruit country. abounoinR In cherries, APP
pies, peaches and apricots. Large quanti-
ties of W heat and barley are raised, also cot
ton. One of the favorite dishes offered TO the
traveller is q combination that will probably
surprise you. 1T mado of sour milk. q
kind of ciabber, into which Is cboppcd up
green cucumbors. with bread. This makes
a most refreshing dish, though psrhspsyou
may not think
People over there. unlike the people of
this country. do not argue politics. but
they do argue about religion. Highway
men, while waiting to rob q traveller. will
argue a theological point. We were robbed
once in Kurdistan, and. having lost some
things we desired very mnch TO recover
we said we would make present If they
would return these things to Us. The par
ley was arranged, and the robbers came to
the HISTORIAN church. for the priest was
himself one of the robbers. And actually
while we were coming to an agreement an
argument sprang up among the thieves on
some theological point"
DR.. Wishard arrived In New York on
July 2. and will return In November. He
Will 20 to the hospital which has been es-
tablished at Teheran.