Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 1.djvu/331

Rh upon the Tyari Christians, Mohammed Pasha had a large force stationed at Amedia, waiting, it was said, to take possession of the country should the Nestorians have succeeded in driving out the Coords.

A large number of Nestorians now escaped to Mosul and the surrounding villages. The condition of these unfortunate fugitives was deplorable in the extreme: many of them were almost naked, and all were driven to beg their bread from door to door. Mr. Rassam exerted himself to save them from any annoyance on the part of the Turks, and generously supplied the necessities of a considerable portion of them. The American missionaries took the care of about twenty, whilst, depending upon the charity of our societies, I hired a house and lodged and provided for the wants of from forty to sixty. My sister, Mrs. Rassam, and Mrs. Badger were industriously engaged in making clothes for the poor women and children, and in otherwise sympathizing with them in their afflictions. The local authorities in the meantime refused any assistance, and continued to manifest the same indifference to the sufferings of the Nestorians.

The renewed hostilities in the mountains having been communicated to Sir S. Canning, fresh orders were sent out by the Porte to the different governors in these districts to obtain the release of the captives. Mohammed Pasha at length acknowledged that he had received orders to that effect, but at the same time had been enjoined to treat the Emeer of Buhtân with great lenity. About the middle of December he despatched the Kaim Makâm to Jezeerah on this mission, and sent by him a horse and silver trappings as a present to Bedr Khan Beg. A month after this forty-five captives, chiefly young women and children of both sexes were floated down on a raft to Mosul and brought to the British Vice-Consulate, where as many as two hundred Nestorians had assembled, all anxious to recognize the fond face of some dear relative of whose fate they were doubtful.