The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-04
THE INHABITANTS OF ARMENIA.
The Population Composed Of Conflicts
ing Races, with Different Religions.


Probably one-half of the population OF
Turkish Armenia is Mohammedan, COM
posed of Turks and kurds. The former are
mostly found In and near the large cities
of Erzinjian, Baibourt, Erzroom and Van
and the plains along the northern part The
kurds live in their mountain villages over
the whole region, but especially I'm the south
near Moosh, and Bitlis and in the Hekkieri
country beyond Van. and the mountains
stretching south and east and far over into
Persia. Their number would be difficult to
compute. A few of them go great ways
They are a race of fine possibilities,
shown In the case of Saladin. But at pres
ent they resemble packs of human wolves
active, cruel, proud. treacherous, and still
calling themselves lords of the mountains.
though the Turks have largely broken their
power and spirit during the past fifty years.
They keep up a strict tribal relation. owing
allegiance to their Sheikhs, some OF whom
are still strong and rich and engage i'm
bitter feuds with one another. They could
not stand a moment against the Ottoman
power If determined to crush and disarm
them. But three years ago his Majesty
summoned the chiefs to the capital pre-
scented them with decorations banners uni
forms and military titles, and sent them
back to organize their tribes into cavalry
regiments, on whom he was pleased 10 be-
stow the name "Hamidieh." after his own
Thus shrewdly appealing TO their pride OF
race, and winking at their subsequent acts.
of peace TO crush Armenian growth and
spirit. and bulwark that might check, In
his opinion, the first waves OF the next
dreaded Russian invasion.
The Armenians are generally known as
being bright practical, industrious and
moral They are of u very peaceable dis
position, and entirely unskiled in the use
of arms, the mere possession of which Is
a serious crime in the case of Christians,
although the Kurds we'll equipped with
modern rifles and revolyers and always
carry them. Their great and fundamental
weakness, seen through all their history,
is a lack of Conference. arising from their
exaggerated indivdualism. They have the
distinction of being the first race who ac-
cepted Christianity, this having taken place
when King Dertad and his people received
baptism in ZIG A. D., thirty-seven years be-
fore Constantine ventured 10 issue even
the Edict of federation. Their martyr roll
has grown with every century. The fact
that the Armenian stock exists at all to-
day is proof of its wonderful vitality, and
excellent quality. For three thousand years
Armenia, on account of her location, has
been trampled into dust both by devas-
tating armies and by emigratng hordes
She has been the prey Of Nebuchadnezzar
xerxes and Alexander; of the Romans, the
Parthians and Persians; OF Byzantine,
Saracen and Crusader; of Seljuk and Otto
man. and Russian and Kurd. Through this
awful record the Christian Church founded
by Gregory, the ''Iluminator," has been
the one rallying point and source OF
strength, and this explains the tremendous
power of the Cross the hearts of ali,
even of the most ignorant peasant