the most
barbarous way, taking all their money, clothes, and valuables.

THE VIOLATION OF WOMEN BEFORE OR AFTER DEATH.--[E] ...

[Footnote E: I refrain from particulars. The gendarmes and Kurds are
stated to have been the perpetrators of these acts.--TRANSLATOR.]

INCIDENT OF THE SHEIKH AND THE GIRL.--I said above that the Armenian
women were sent off in batches under guard of gendarmes. Whenever they
passed by a village the inhabitants would come and choose any they
desired, taking them away and giving a small sum to the gendarmes. At
one place a Kurd of over 60 picked out a beautiful girl of 16. She
refused to have anything to do with him, but said she was ready to
embrace Islam and marry a youth of her own age. This the Kurds would not
allow, but gave her the choice between death and the Sheikh; she still
refused, and was killed.

BARSOUM AGHA.--Whilst I was Kaimakam of the district of Kiakhta, in the
Vilayet of Kharpout, I was acquainted with an Armenian Notable of that
place, named Barsoum Agha. He was a worthy and courageous man, dealing
well with Kurds, Turks, and Armenians, without distinction; he also
showed much kindness to officials who were dismissed from their posts in
the district. All the Kurdish Aghas thereabouts kept close watch over
him, hating him because he was their rival in the supremacy of the
place. When, after my banishment, I arrived at Sivrek and heard what had
befallen the Armenians, I enquired about him and his family. I was told
that when the Government disposed of the Armenians of Kiakhta he was
summoned and ordered to produce the records of moneys owing to him
(Kurds and Armenians in that district owed him a sum of 10,000 liras);
he replied that he had torn up the records and released his debtors from
their obligations. He was taken away with the other Armenians, and on
arrival at the Euphrates he asked permission to drown himself. This was
granted, and he endeavoured to do so, but failed, as he could not master
himself. So he said to the gendarmes, "Life is dear and I cannot kill
myself, so do as you have been ordered," whereupon one of them shot him
and then killed the rest of the family.

NARRATIVE OF A YOUNG TURK.--This youth, who had come to Diarbekir as a
schoolmaster, told me that the Government had informed the Armenians of
Broussa that their deportation had been decided, and that they were to
leave for Mosul, Syria, or El-Deir three days after receiving the order.
After sell