Ramsay, William Mitchell: Impressions of Turkey during twelve years' wanderings (London, 1897)

THE ARMENIANS 21 5

prince of these Armenians who welcomed Barba-
rossa and his crusading army on their toilsome
march from Konia over Taurus to the southern sea,
a few days before the great German Emperor
perished prematurely in the waters of the Kaly-
kadnos. If the Armenians subject to Turkey tend
towards a timid and submissive type, the contrast
of the free Armenians proves that the timidity is
the result of the long repression and the " reign
of terror ". The few thousands of free Armenians
of Zeitun maintained their freedom against all
efforts of the Turks till 1879, when the modern
cannon of a large army compelled a surrender. By
ambassadorial intervention (English mainly, I be-
lieve), the intended general massacre was prevented;
but a fort was built commanding Zeitun. Again,
in the desperation caused by the massacres of the
last few years, Zeitun rebelled, captured by assault
the fort, held, though it was, by superior numbers,
and resisted for months every attack of a Turkish
army far more numerous than all the Armenians,
men, women and children numbered together: the
army was officered by Turks. But the Powers
intervened, "in the interests of peace"; the con-
suls from Aleppo came and induced the Zeitunli to
lay down their weapons, to submit to disarmament,
to give up their old flint-locks and muzzle-loaders,
with which they had beaten the improved repeating