Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 1.djvu/332

278 It was a heart-rending scene which will never pass from my memory. Here a husband embraced his lost wife, there another heard that the partner of his bosom was still a slave; children ran to the arms of their mothers who wept over them with a parent's joy, whilst others heard the sad tidings that their offspring had been either sold, or slain by the hands of the infidels, or had thrown themselves into the Tigris to escape dishonour. A few little ones stood alone in the crowd whom no one seemed to claim: there were three sweet children among these who alternately wept and laughed as they saw those around them sad or joyful. Their tender age, their winning simplicity, their innocent unconsciousness, softened the hearts of several Mohammedan spectators, and I saw more than one shed tears over the fate of these unfortunate Christians. Two of the children, named Gool Yama and Rendi (the "flower of the sea" and "pretty,") became part of our own household, whilst my sister took charge of the third. Some of the remainder were added to those for whom we had already provided a separate dwelling, and the rest were taken by Mr. Rassam, who now hired a spacious Khan for their accommodation.

There still remained upwards of a hundred captives at Jezeerah, but these Bedr Khan Beg refused to surrender, on the ground that they had either become private property by purchase, or had embraced Islamism. Many more were scattered about in many parts, and were reclaimed by the unwearied exertions of Mr. Rassam, who despatched agents on this errand all over the country, so that by the end of January, he had procured the release of more than sixty Nestorians. In February 1844, Kemal Effendi, a Turkish commissioner appointed by the Porte, reached Mosul, and was soon after followed by Mr. R. Stevens, then Vice-Consul of Samsoon, who was directed to co-operate with him in obtaining the liberation of the captives, and in such other measures as might tend to the safety of the Nestorians in the mountains. Kemal Effendi had an interview with Bedr Khan Beg and obtained the release of forty or fifty captives; but it was evident from the after proceedings of this commission that the Turkish government was averse to any coercive or strong measures being adopted against this formidable chieftain. Notwithstanding the presence of Kemal Effendi