The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-09-11

Iucn WAS luNlttu W the uOuse Oh Tlcl
Circassian to drink tea and have some bread
and cheese. Here was able to bring to.
gether the leading Turks and Christians of
the village and bring about more friendly
state of feeling than had heretofore existed.
l secured the other christian girl and
handed her over to her mother. The boy
also, who had remained behind put in an
appearance and announced his intention of
not returning to his Turkish master, who
that morning had sent him out into his
fields to plough. | assured him he need
not be afraid and gave him back to his
mother. Then called the village together
and distributed money and clothing. My
supply of the latter gave out at this point.
l gave to some Turks here, who were in a
very pitiable state of poverty.
We had good service, and so after din
ner started for Geoksun. There are many
interesting remains in this neighborhood,
showing that at one time there was a large
Greek city here. 1t was to Geoksun that
Chrysostom was banshed. We passed sew
eral large Moslem cemeteries, in which each
grave has at head and foot, an enormous
stone, often the remains of marble pillar,
possibly from some christian church; the
idea being that the grave stones are thrown
into the balance when the final accounts are
made up, to weigh against sins committed.
So the larger the stone the greater the
chance of admission 10 paradise. GeOksun
is two houses from Tasholook. l went to
the house of the Mudlr, who received me
very cordially and called me "Counsul Beg"
Soon 90 Turkish refugees, from Tanur,
presented themselves aud asked for aid.
was very glad to give it, for they were in
very pitiable state of poverty. Then l en-
CURED about the christians. All who had
not been killed or fled away had become
Mosems and assumed Turkish names. L
told them to come, and in the presence of
the Meudir told them they were free to pro-
fess christianity again and to call themselves
by their old names again. There were 81
of them, and my announcement made them
very glad. l also liberated a boy and girl
who had been kidnapped by Turks two
years ago, and restored them to their par
ents. l heard of two or three others whose
cares l was unable to settle, but wrote
letter to be delivered to a Commission of
Reconciliation, composed of leading Armen-
ians, of Zeitoon and some Turkish officials,
who were TO reach Geoksun in few days;
calling their attention to what had learned
and requesting them to set these poor chris
tians free. The Mudir entertained me
very Hospitality, The christian houses and
shops have all been torn down; also the
Gregorian church.
In the morning L called on the great
Turkish beg of this region than whom a
more horrible monster it would be difficult
to imagine. He reminded me of the giants
that Jack killed, and 1 could not help wish
ing that some one would come along and
cut his head off. He is noted robber and
murderer, and scruples not at any crime.
We made an effort to visit all the Armenians
in their homes and offer words of hope and
courage for the future. We had pleasant
breakfast with the Meudir to whom pre-
sented copy Of the New Testament in
Turkish, which he gladly accepted. So
bidding good bye to Geoksun returned to
Tasholook. These villages, Kiredj, Geol
POonar, Dermen Der, Tasholook and Cock
sun, are situated, the first three on one side
of fertile plain and the two last on the
other side, in sight of each other. All over
the plain the harvest will be extremely
bountiful. AT Tashelook l stopped to en-
quire whether the Turk had really escorted
the little girl to her father. They told me
he had not, tho he had brought her down
from the mountains. sent my zebtieh and
one of my soldiers to bring the girl to me-.
After some difficulty they got possession of
her, and with crowd of Turks brought her
to me. / asked the chief Turk of the vii
lage why the girl had not been given back.
He replied that the only reason was the
girls own unwillingness to return. She
cried so bitterly when they said they were
going to send her to her father, that their
tender hearts were almost broken and
they really could not force themselves to
tear her away from the friends she loved so
dearly-now they brought her to me to do
whatever l liked with her. / had Avoids
Agha an Garabed Khoja take her aside and
talk to her, and when she was assured of
safety she at once, with tears In her eyes,
expressed desire to 60 back to her father.
Her mother Is dead. So had the chief
Turk take one hand and the village priest
the other and present the poor girl to her
father to the great joy of all. exhorted
the Turks and Armenians TO live together
in brotherly love, which they promised to
do. This being finished we proceeded on
our, way, and towards evening that day,
Saturday, we arrived at Geben. This was
large and prosperous village with popu-
lation of 1900. 1t was totally destroyed;
not single house escaped the soldiers
fury, and the present population is s71;
nearly 700 persisted from war plague and