Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 1.djvu/429

Rh tablishment of the Sultan's authority where as yet it was recognised only in name. In order to give a colouring of sincerity to their professions of sympathy for the Nestorians, as well as to get rid of the importunity of the foreign ambassadors, who had espoused their cause, a Commissioner was sent out to inquire into the origin and consequences of the late disasters; but it is clear from the after proceedings of this functionary, that he was instructed what line of policy to pursue. The reports of the Commission, so far as they are known, imputed to the Nestorians the blame of having instigated the massacre, and in proportion as this decision tended to exculpate the Coordish Emeers, in that degree did it seem to warrant the cowardly leniency of the Turks towards them. The whole history of this affair is a sad specimen of the shameful intrigue, and base expediency of the Ottoman government.

Matters remained in this state till the month of September, 1846, when Bedr Khan Beg threatened the district of Tehoma, to the east of the Tyari, with a new massacre, declaring that in this attack he would spare neither men, women, nor children. In the mean time every species of exaction was practised upon the vanquished Nestorians, and no effect whatever was made on the part of the government to restrain the tyranny of the barbarous Coords. The Porte has promised that in compensation for their losses, the Nestorians should be exempted from taxation for a certain length of time; notwithstanding this assurance Bedr Khan Beg had levied the annual capitation tax from them twice, and Noorallah Beg once during the current year. Tired and wearied out with the fruitless negotiations made in behalf of his people, Mar Shimoon requested permission of Tayar Pasha of Mosul to proceed to the Berwari, but was refused on the ground that the country was not yet sufficiently settled to allow him to reside there in safety. He had now been a refugee for upwards of three years, and his diocese, as may be imagined, was in the greatest confusion: many of the villages were destitute of clergy, the churches had been defiled and could not be used for Divine Service until they had been re-consecrated by the Patriarch, and his flock were importuning him to return to put in order the things that remained. Added to this nothing had been effected towards his restoration, nothing in behalf of