oval secret and to inspire terror, began deporting Armenians with
still greater energy, and those who had come out returned to their
hiding-places. One of the principal men of Diarbekir stated that one
Armenian had paid fifty Turkish pounds to an inhabitant for shelter in
his house during the night before the Vali's departure, and another told
me that a man had received an offer of three pounds for each night until
the same event, but had refused from fear of the authorities.

CHASTITY OF THE ARMENIAN WOMEN.--[J] ... An Arab of the Akidat told me
that he was going along the bank of the Euphrates when he saw some of
the town rabble stripping two women of their clothes. He expostulated
and told them to restore the clothes, but they paid no attention. The
women begged for mercy, and finding it unavailing they threw themselves
into the river, preferring death to dishonour. He told me also of
another woman who had a suckling child, and begged food from the
passers-by, who were in too great fear of the authorities to help her.
On the third day of starvation, finding no relief, she left the baby in
the market of El-Deir and drowned herself in the Euphrates. In this way
do they show high qualities, honour, and courage such as many men do not
possess.

[Footnote J: An official relates how he wanted to choose a servant from
a boatload of victims, who said they were willing to come as servants,
but as nothing else. He took one, and on coming home one night drunk he
tried to offer her violence; she reproved him in suitable terms and he
conducted himself well thenceforward.--TRANSLATOR.]

WOMEN-SERVANTS IN DIARBEKIR.--You cannot enter a house in Diarbekir
without finding from one to five Armenian maid-servants, even the
humblest shopkeepers having one, who probably in the lifetime of her
parents would not have condescended to speak a word to the master whom
she now has to serve in order to save her life. It is stated that the
number of such women and girls in the city is over 5,000, mostly from
Erzeroum, Kharpout and other Vilayets.

NARRATIVE OF SHAHIN BEY.--Shahin Bey, a man of Diarbekir, who was in
prison with me, told me that a number of Armenian men and women were
delivered to him for slaughter, he being a soldier. He said: "Whilst we
were on the way, I saw an Armenian girl whom I knew, and who was very
beautiful. I called her by name, and said 'Come, I will save you, and
you shall marry a young man of your country, a Turk o