Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 March 1875 — Dreadful Picture of the Persian Famine. [ARTICLE]

Dreadful Picture of the Persian Famine.

Statistics will show far more forcibly than could any exercise of the imagination how bitter were the sufferings of the Persians while the lord of all that fair land of Ivan was spending untold gold in his visit to Europe. Hardly had Dr. Bellew and his English fellowtravelers who have told the story left Afghanistan than the signs of the long three years of famine were seen on every hand. Everywhere were deserted houses upon which the curse had laid its malignant hand. The green and beautifully foliated trees, the vineyards and orchards stood in stark contrast to the misery that reigned around. The highroads were insecure, for the Turcomans had everywhere resumed their old habits of plundering, robbing, and murdering. Meschid, out of a population of 45,000, had lost 20,000 inhabitants, who, without offering the slightest resistance, had been marched off to slavery in Khiva and Bokhara, or had perished of hunger. In such numbers did the starving wretches allow themselves to be led to chains for the sake of food that the gates of the city had to be locked to .keep any inhabitants in the city. We give a”few of the most fearful examples of misery. Only four families regain in Mahiabad. Out of 400 in Ghibk, only 250 inhabitants are left. In Kam numbers of families strayed away to look for food where indeed none was to be had. The survivors were too feeble to bury the dead, who, exposed, added pestilence to famine. In Damghan, a telegraphic station east of Teheran, only 200 families remain out of 1,000, and in Teheran itself 200 persons perished weekly of starvation and typhus. The District of Turbet Hardari lost 20,000; the District of Belzwar, 24,000; of Nischapur, at least 20,000; Hamadan lost between 25,000 and 50,000; and in Kirmanscba alone 15,000 perished of hunger. On the whole journey from the frontiers of Afghanistan to the Persian capital Dr. Bellew saw not one child; all were dead. Nowhere was there music, singing or joy. All was sorrow, death, misery.— N- Y. Graphic.