In the land of the lion and sun, or, modern Persia : $b Being experiences of life in Persia from 1866 to 1881Wills, C. J. (Charles James)
History
In the land of the lion and sun, or, modern Persia : $b Being experiences of life in Persia from 1866 to 1881
Wills, C. J. (Charles James)
Iran -- Description and travel; Wills, C. J. (Charles James), 1842-1912 -- Travel -- Iran
All the difficulties which were first thrown in the way of proselytism
_among the Armenians_, have now been surmounted, and a considerable
number of converts have been made from the Armenian Christians to the
tenets of the Church of England. But as yet no converts have been made
from the Mahommedans. These, however, are encouraged to come to the
services, in the hope of arousing their curiosity; but they simply seem
to come for the show, only presenting themselves very occasionally. The
magnificent establishment kept up by the Church Missionary Society is
the wonder of the Persians, and Dr. Bruce has succeeded, principally by
having expended large sums of money in building in Julfa, and employing
many labourers, in securing the respect of the Julfa Armenians.
Employment is sought to be given to the less gifted among the scholars in
a factory where various arts are taught, such as weaving, but this does
not appear a success. The clever artisans, Baabis, nominally Mussulmans,
employed by Dr. Bruce as decorators and builders, have made a really
handsome series of buildings, perhaps a little florid. These men have
been able to show their great skill in decoration, and the beautiful
geometrical patterns on the outer wall of the church, the hand-painted
screen which runs round the eaves of the courtyard, and the incised
decorations in stucco in the interior of the church, representing
parrots, flowers, etc., are curious in the extreme.
This church can seat three hundred comfortably; the effect is good of the
pale yellow of the plaster and the coloured glass of the windows.
Every door and window in the house, etc., is beautifully made,
stained, glazed, and varnished, and fitting accurately; in fact, one
feels a little envious when one leaves one’s poor Persian quarters,
with ill-fitting doors and windows, for this handsome European-like
establishment.
On leaving the first courtyard, which contains the private quarters of
Dr. Bruce and the church, one enters the school. Three sides of a large
courtyard are occupied by schoolrooms, and a fine playground is in the
middle, with a large stone hauz, or tank, handsomely built. In this the
boys in hot weather daily bathe. Here, too, are parallel bars, a vaulting
pole, and a giant’s stride; beyond this is another courtyard, containing
a vineyard, the technical school, the dispensary, and rooms for the
orphans. Other rooms, but small and poor, are occupied by the girls’
school, which is, however, I believe, to be enlarged, and an English
teacher, too, has lately gone out for the girls. Another large house
adjoining is occupied by the steward of the orphans, while at the other
side are built a set of European stables. A garden is hired by Dr. Bruce,
where he cultivates successfully all kinds of European vegetables for his
table.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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