The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-09-11
FROM ONE OF OUR MISSIONARIES.
The Condition in Turkey Accurately De-
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scTibed.
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sastle, giving the favor OF antiquity to a
landscape of almost overwhelming grandeur.
We passed through Dederly, considered a
part OF Furmiz, and | was much pleased tc
see the industry OF the people, who had sci
to work to build their houses, tho as they
have no animals they are obliged to carry
The beams on their shoulders, distance OF
over mile. In all this region the crops
are remarkably good.
Later on we passed an Armenian village
9oohogh which was not destroyed. This
was the only christian village saw on this
journey which was not in ruins. We went
On to the Turkish village, Tanurs, where l
pitched my tent for the night. This place
was attacked by the Zeitoonlies, who burned
10 houses-plundered all the rest, killed 25
OF the people and put the rest to flight.
They went to Geoksun, where thirty died
Of sickness. They had only recently re-
turned; in fact all had not yet come
back. They are Yery poor and have not
been receiving help from any source. The
government has made many promises, but
so far has done nothing. In the morning l
gave them money for food and clothed all
the little girls from DR.. Harris gift; also
gave some second hand clothing which Miss
Blakely had tucked in-chiefy ladies' APP
parel in European styles, at which the
women looked ashamed, but took gladly
enough, inwardly resolving, l suppose, to
make them oyer into civilized shapes. Next
we went on one hour to DuDgel, another
Turkish village, which had gone through
she same experience as Tanur. Here also,
n distributed money and clothing amidst
general expressions of gratitude. l finished
itup in an hour and was off again, along
the very interesting mountain road. l
stopped for little while to visit wonder
full cave of magnificent proportions. Its
roof is arehed like that of great cathedral,
while away down among the inaccessible
rocks and boulders below, a clear, blue
stream rushes over deep descent, making
awaterfall, in front of which, when saw
it, rainbow was lowering. 1t was so re-
freshingy cool in there, one wanted to stay
and lest, but we had to be off. We fol-
lowed up the stream which runs through
the cave to its source in what l call Mer-
maids Fountain, wonderful little lake of
unknown depth, and matchless purity. 1t
is said to be inhabited by mermaid, who
has condescended on many occasions to show
herself to favored individuals, to which
class unfortunately, we did not belong.
Nor did we see the fish, said to be as large
as,two men. which many have seen. sup
pose they are the mermen. imagine that
In order to behold those wonderful beings,
one must be present at their mystic hour of
night, when onca a year the fountain sud-
denly dries up and takes short rest before
beginning another years work. 1t is not
safe to battle in these mysterious waters
those who have invaded is sacred precincts
have suddenly been dragged down into Its
unexplored depths. The scoffer may ex-
plain in vain that very cold water is apt to
cause cramps-the simple country folks
know better. After enjoying two or three
hours rest and good dinner here, we packed
mp, and in spite of the protestations of mule
teers and soldiers decided to push on to
Kiredj, four hours distant. We had to
climb high mountain and descend on the
other side by road very little removed
from the perpendicular. But 1t was a
pleasant evening with full moon, and we
Az enjoyed 1t in spite of our WEAKNESS.
We reached Kiredj at o p. m. We were
very warmly greeted by the people, with
whom had become we'll acquainted in
zeitooD, while they were refugees there.
One Of the first to welcome me was priest,
who followed the apostolic inJunctions, to
greet one. another with kiss. He was ar
rayed in lady'S wrapper with large
sleeves, which made quite striking robe.
After supper We went to bed. Next morn
Ing. Thursday, / proceeded to distribute re-
lief. Here learned that the government
had begun to give out wheat and gorek or
darru, kind of millet from which bread
can be made. Each person receives half a
Sushel of wheat and half bushel of gorek
per month. The people are living in little
Booths. The village was destroyed by
Dashi bozooks; two houses were burned and
the rest pulled down. The villagers fled
irst to Tanur and later to Zeitoon. They
aed in hurry and took very little with
Them. In fact they would be entirely desti
tute were 1t not for the pots and tools given
them through funds furnished by the Red
Cross. This observation is true of all the Ar.
menians in the places 1 visited on this