War and Revolution in Asiatic Russia
Russia. The situation was serious. In the mountains were large forces of Khurds, who at any time might receive reinforcements from the Turks, and descend upon Urumiah again. They had with them large numbers of Assyrian Christians, whom they had made slaves in their first raid. They were also occupying the uplands, where the Persians and Christians of the plain had their barley crops; the season was advancing, and these crops ought to be gathered or famine would threaten the plain. But the Khurds were too frightened to come in and make peace. Knowing that Dr. Packard had great influence among them as a disinterested medical man, the Russian Consul proposed to him that he should visit them in order to explain the conditions of the amnesty and tell them not to be afraid. I accompanied him; and in case we should meet any Turks, I arranged beforehand with the doctor that I should pose as his medical assistant. When travelling in the East you must always impress yourself in some way or other upon the natives. If you have come for the purpose of political propaganda, you should represent yourself as at least the Ambassador of an Emperor. If you have come with the intention of converting souls, you should pose as a religious fanatic, preferably a Dervish. If on the other hand you are a student of racial questions, or are anxious to act as a mediator or pacificator, the best rôle that you can adopt is that of a doctor; whether real or quack depends upon your medical knowledge. In Dr. Packard's case it was the former; in mine, unfortunately, it could only be the latter.
On September 8th we started off on our horses from the Mission-compound at Urumiah to visit the Khurds upon
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