The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-27
TOWN OF ZEITUN.
Differs In History and Character
from Other Armenian Cities.
Letter in London Times.

Letter in London Times
In all this Armenian rebellion-for as such
history certainly VIII know the troubles OF
the past autumn-there has been no incident
more striking that that which has recently
taken place at Zeitun. -Four hundred men
of the Sultal'S regular army, we'll known
10 be as good fighting force behind breast
works as any in the world, have surren-
dered themselves, a fort, heavy guns, ana
stores, to an undiscipiined horde OF Ar
menians. and are lying now at the mercy OF
the latter. with small present hope OF being
either released or revenged.
The popular conception of the Armenian
as a petty, clerkly race has endured some
rude shocks since last September. III II be
true (and there is small reason 10 doubt the
facD that the Constantinople riots were ex-
cited in the first instance by band of de-
voted Armenian patriots. who received the
sacrament at the hands OF their priests and
went out straightway into the streets OF
Stambui to make such stain by their
blood that all Europe must see Ii, the act,
whatever its morality, beggars any In MS
among a host of sporadic uprislngs, comes
this revolt of Zeitun 10 snow tnat Ar
menians cannot only offer up themselves
like sheep but In their own time and place
Zeitun Is neither by history or character
quite like any other Armenian town. Up
to less than twenty years ago 1t could boast
that it maintained intact the tradition or
Armenian independence. The wild ana beau-
tiful valley in which 1t lies and all the
passes through Taurus north ana south ri,
midst of the house of bondage. The town
owes its origin TO refugees from syria ana
Cilicia, driven by the Egyptians in the lat
ter half of the fourteenth century 10 re-
linquish finally their kingdom of Lesser Ar
menia. In the native chronicles OF the IN
dependence its name never occurs, and we
have to wait until Paul of Aleppo passed
that way in the seventeenth century 10
hear of "the well-known Armenian town
Zeitun.' In the mountains OF their north
ern frontier the fugitiveS founded TWO ROD
ber-nests, Hadjim two days marcn ABOVE
their ancient capital, Sis. and this Leitun,
dozen hours to the northward OF the city OF
Marash Both these Strongholds can be APP
preached only through passes or extreme
difficulty, and both are set on mighty Islands
of rock Joined to the abutting mountainsides
by narrow necks. The aspect OF the two
towns is very similar. Their houses cling
bat-like to the face Of the buttress the roof
of one serving for courtyard to another
above. For streets they have the steepest
and most tortuous of alleys, cut by rude
flights of steps, and dipping every now ana
again under dark, narrow archways, wnicn
could be closed in an instant against attack:
The larger edifices, churches, bazaars and
government offices huddle on the narrow
summit of the rock, windowless until far
nothing better than arrow-slits. Fine bri-
gand towns in fact, where a corps OF in
fantry might perish without seeing dozen
of the foe.
Hadiim is the more squalid having from
the first been less successful In asserting Its
independence, and. it contains now as sbject
souls as any In all Turkey. The valley below
is straight and stony; the uplands above or
the bleakest. A few Turks have been inn
ported to strengthen the official hands, and
many Circassans of more evil repute than
usual, have responded to an invitation to
settle in the valleys around. Thus the back
OF the Hadjimli has been broken thoroughly.
and in the present rising this descendent of
the feudal Armenians has hardly lifted a
finger The Zeitunli, on the other hand. has
waxed rich by long immunity in brigandage;
gun on back and knife at belt he strides
about his hills with the agility OF a goat
and the gait of lion. In all the Eastern
Taurus, and for many miles out on the
plains, his is name Of terror. Ask any
Syrian villager by which he would sooner
be attacked Kurd or Zeitunli. and he
Will pray Allah that ii be not the latter.
These mountaineers have lived on plumber
for centuries, respecting no man, Christian
or Moslem, except a Zeitunli. and paying
allegiance or taxes to no one out their own
Dere-beys. The most desperate brigand
with whom the authorities have had to cope
for many long day, Chuiu, who held up
the French vice consul at Diarbekr some
three years back, and as late as last sum-
mer was terror in Mesopotamia, is a man
of Zetun. The race is as handsome as
brave, tall, wiry, but somewhat over-deli-
cate in feature, mutely reminding the trav-
eler that in it's isolation ii has inbred for
centuries and fiercely resisted any infusion
of uaU