DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4752#0121
OF ASIA MINOR III
characteristic of Turkish policy was the way in
which the main body was planted in the Long
Yailas (see p. 109).
Similar, but much worse, has been the experience
of the refugees from European districts, Bosnia,
Bulgaria, etc., who came into Asia after the last
war, 1878. This considerable accession should have
added greatly to the strength of the country. The
land is not half enough populated, and the popu-
lation is dwindling. Yet the government could
find nowhere to plant the refugees. They wandered
over the face of the earth, and found no rest for
the sole of their foot. In 1881 and later, we met
many companies of them ; and often they came
weeping and entreating the help of the " English
Pasha," who had been sent to introduce reforms
into the country. Their tale was always the same:
they had been sent to one place after another by
the Turkish Refugee Commission : everywhere
they had been refused by the people, and sent
away : nobody would do anything for them :
nobody would entertain them : their cattle were
sold : their money was gone : they were starving.
And this in a country naturally rich, fertile, and
only half populated ! It seems strange to us of the
north that these refugees should have been so slow
to think of " the good old rule, the simple plan,
that they should take who have the power ". But
characteristic of Turkish policy was the way in
which the main body was planted in the Long
Yailas (see p. 109).
Similar, but much worse, has been the experience
of the refugees from European districts, Bosnia,
Bulgaria, etc., who came into Asia after the last
war, 1878. This considerable accession should have
added greatly to the strength of the country. The
land is not half enough populated, and the popu-
lation is dwindling. Yet the government could
find nowhere to plant the refugees. They wandered
over the face of the earth, and found no rest for
the sole of their foot. In 1881 and later, we met
many companies of them ; and often they came
weeping and entreating the help of the " English
Pasha," who had been sent to introduce reforms
into the country. Their tale was always the same:
they had been sent to one place after another by
the Turkish Refugee Commission : everywhere
they had been refused by the people, and sent
away : nobody would do anything for them :
nobody would entertain them : their cattle were
sold : their money was gone : they were starving.
And this in a country naturally rich, fertile, and
only half populated ! It seems strange to us of the
north that these refugees should have been so slow
to think of " the good old rule, the simple plan,
that they should take who have the power ". But