Pam* £u¥ppd Central Committee for the Relief of Distress in Bulgaria Report* Constantinople. A. i3 oyajian 1877 4 i * ’ 1 f Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019 with funding from Columbia University Libraries i https://archive.org/details/reportofcentralcOOcent OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE t FOR THE RELIEF OF DISTRESS IN BULGARIA & c. CONSTANTINOPLE PRINTED BY A. H. BOYAJIAN. 1877 . Published under authority of the Ministry of Public Instruction. CENTRA uEn, E If r~\ w mm-nn ULi at CONS TANT1N0PLE. ENERA JLil rprrmT? M, PRESIDENT. His Excellency Sic Henry Elliot G!. (A it. VICE PRESIDENT. Tlie Hon. H. Maynard | Me. M. II. Foster C. It. SECRETARY. TREASURER. Mr. W. II. Wrench. Mr. A. Lebet. Mr. S. Adler His. Ex. Blacque Bey Rev. T. L. Byington » J. K. Greene Mr. H. J. Hanson Rev. Dr. Long Rev. T. L. Byington » Dr. Thomson The Imperial Ottoman Bank, Constantinople, Paris and London,—The Credit Lyonnais, Constantinople, Paris, Marseilles and Lyons,—Messrs D, Lebet & fils Victor—and Messrs C, S, Hanson & Co., Constantinople. Mr. E. Mercet His Ex. Munir Bey Mr. E. Pears » P. Pedemonte » E. Schuyler » N. Tamvaco Rev. Dr. Thomson Mr. E. Whitaker » J. W. Whittall » J. Von Hass » G. Zarifi Rev. Dr. Long Mr. A. Lebet Mr. II. J. Hanson » W. H. Wrench LIST OF SUBSCRIPTIONS received Iby tiro Central Committee. £ s d Liras Ps. Sir Arnold Kemball. 10 — Lady Kemball. 10 — Miss Yere Kemball. 1 — Miss Belle Kemball. 1 — By Rev. S. A. Steindthal, Manchester. 500 545 — Sir Henry Elliot. 50 55 12 Lady Elliot. 27 50 Miss Elliot. 5 — Francis Elliot. 5 — A. Lebet . 50 55 — 0. Zarifi. 50 — 55 — Chas. S. Hanson and Co. 30 33 — J. W. Whitt all and Co. 50 — M. H. Foster. 25 Honble. H. Maynard. 15 G. N. Tamvaco. 30 33 J. Yon Haas. 15 16 50 E. Mercet—Credit Lyonnais. 20 — P. Pedemonte. 10 11 — W. H. Wrench. 10 11 03 E. Whitaker. 10 — Rev. Dr. Thomson . 5 — E. Schuyler . 5 — S. Adler . Fes. 100 . . . 4 40 Blacque Bey . Ca'ime Ps. 500 . . . 2 77 Rev. T. L. Byington . * . . . . 4 — » J. Iv. Greene . 4 — » Dr. Long . o O — E. Pears . 3 — English Church at Kadikeui per Rev. R. Elliot. . . . 11 97 George Crawshay . 100 108 50 Baron and Baronne de Langsdorfs . • 7 — James Bee. Smyrna . 3 —• Miss Elinor Bruce . 1 1 09 Toros Minasian .. 1 — P. Dimitroff . 2 A. Tsanoff . 4 Rev. M. D Kirejian . 25 A. Aivazian . 1 A. Karacashian. 22 W. Sellar. 1 UI. Mikayelian. 20 A. Kasbarian. 10 Rev. Dr. Wood. 1 — Miss M. M. Patrick. 1 — Mrs. Thomson. 5 — Mrs. K. P. Williams. 1 — John Seager . 10 —- Rev. J. A. Baldwin. . 1 50 II. 0. Dwight. 1 — Rev. I. G. Bliss D. D. 2 — '> E. E. Bliss. D. D. 1 — » M. P. Parmelee. 1 — £T. 1191 15 7 — A Friend. Rev. Dr. Riggs.. Mr. and Mrs. G. F. Herrick. Rev. M. H. Hitchcock.. . . . Garabed.. G. .. 0. L. (with a packet of clothes). Samuel Palmer (with a packet of clothes). Dr. Koelle. Collection made by Mr. E. A. Freeman for Batak, by Mr. E. Schuyler. Sir A. Buchanan. Dr. Beddoe. Earl Russell. B. P. 0. Collected by Mr. E. A. Freeman for Batak, by Mr. E. Schuyler. » ditto.forBoyadjik, ditto. . Through the Imperial Ottoman Bank. George Baker . W. R. Swan. Henry Ridley. Rev. W. A. Farnsworth. Fred and George II. Robert Seager. A. Asadoorian. X. John and Geo. C. Rowell.. Rev. Alex. Tomory.. Per Messrs. D. Lebet and fils Victor. Messrs Arles Dufour and Cie. Lyons ... Fes. 250 » A. Bonte and fils. . . Lille .... » 200 » Ls, Dreyfus and Cie . Marseilles . . » 200 » Bennert and Bivort . . Tumet ... » 100 Fes. 750 Per Messrs. D. Lebet and fils Victor. Mr. Raffard, Paris.Fes. 500 Messrs L. Molines and Cie, Marseilles ... » 300 » Stocker Goldsmid and Cie.» 300 » Droche Robin and Cie.» 50 » Fornet and Vergnier, Lyons .... » 250 » Malmazet, Pirjantz, Mayor and Cie. . » 250 » Casano and Zuzcher . » 200 » Domken Freres, Vervier.. » 100 Fes. 1950 Danish Bey. Offertory Fund Memorial Church . . ... Bulgarian Ladies’ Committee of Ortakeui, thro’ Dr. Long From Edinburgh, thro’ Dr. Thomson. Rev. R. H. Weakley. Jo van Kisiroff. Keifi Efferidi. Isidore Isidor... Through the Imperial Ottoman Bank, London . . . . Alloa, Scotland, by Mr. Alexander Ure. Earl of Minto.. Countess of Minto. £ s d Liras. Ps. 1191 15 2 — 5 — 2 50 1 — 08 O O — 2 2 20| 20 2 2 20! 268 14 295 23 10 11 — 1 1 10 10 11 — 2 — 130 141 70 132 17 144 81 7 90 2 — 2 •— 1 05 1 — 30 40 20 20 5 — 1 1 10 . 32 f 46 84 23 1 — 4 79 330 — 195 214 50 2 50 1 — 1 10 156 171 99 20 22 05 10 11 021 5 5 511 £t. 2719 cc llonble. Mary Abercromby. Viscount Melgund. llonble. George Elliot. » Arthur Elliot. Lady Antrobus .. Miss Amy Frances Yule. Through the Imperial Ottoman Bank, London .... Mansion House Relief Committee, thro’ the Lord Mayor of London . . W. B. Smijthe Esq. Mr. Massakian . Through Mr. S. Adler. » » » » » Bulgarian Students, Robert College . . . Lord Provost of Perth, thro’ Mr. A. Kinnaird Pastor Suhle. Mad’lle Lucas ... . Through the Imperial Ottoman Bank, London Ephrussi and Co, Paris .... Fes. 500 Wolf Forth and Co, Strakonitz . . j> 200 Geb Weill and Co, >/ . . >> 60 Geipel Jager, Vienna. » 50 Bernard Forth, » . » 25 Wei. Michel Nachfolger, Nieustadt. » 50 Gab. Gronmann, . . . . » » 20 Fes. 905 » » » » » » » » » Dr. Ritchie London Edinburgh &c. Bulgarian Relief Fund . . Thos. Seraphinithes. Congregation N. P. Church, Dunse, thro’ Rev Contributions in England, thro’ Rev. H. Jones Through Mr. S. Adler. Messrs. Thierry Mieg and Co, Malhous . Fes. 50 — Through Messrs. D. Lebet and fds Victor. Messrs. Cumont Declercy, Alost.... Fes. 100 — Collected by «TUnion Liberate,» Neuchatel » 245 50 Collected at Buttes.» 94 50 Fes. 440 — A. T. Stoddard and family, thro’ Rev. Dr. Long . Liverpool Relief Committee. llonble. H. B. Devereux. » Mrs. Devereux. C. F. Through the Credit Lyonnais, Constantinople Mr. Le Due de Sabran Pouteves . . . Mr. L. Thomassy de Cannes. Le Cercle d’Endoume. Mr. Giani. Fes. 100 5 — » » 20 Mansion House Committee, thro’ Lord Mayor of London. Luckfield Church, thro’ Rev. Astley Maberly . . . . Lady Lewis. John Muir Esq. L. L. D. Edinburgh, per licv. Dr. Thomson The Committee of County of Berwick, per Mr. Kinnaird. Edinburgh &c. Bulgarian Relief Fund. T. A. Relief Fund, Cambridge, per Mr. J. D. Digby . . £ s d Liras. Ps. 2719 48f 2 2 20$ 1 1 10$ 3 O O 30 2 2 20| 10 11 02$ 10 11 02i 50 55 12 3000 3315 5 — 10 39 82 6 — 50 55 — 1 — 44 30 12 33 81 16 11 9 18 33 15 16 50 400 440 — 85 13 5 14 58 700 768 25 2 19 18 97 18 12 3 20 47 400 — 440 10 11 5 5 50 5 j 5 50 6 26 6000 6615 _ 5 15 6 34 3 o O 31 20 — 22 — 300 — 330 — 200 — 220 — 50 55 — £t . 15291 59 —- 9 — English Residents in Moscow, per Mr. Rt. Me.-Gill . Miss Elinor Bruce. Mr. and Mrs. Ashley Mande. Mansion House Committee, thro’ Lord Mayor—balance Collection made at St. Ives, Hants, per S. W. II. Goodman Mr. L. R. Webber. Mansion House Committee, subscribed at Cheltenham Edinburgh &c. Bulgarian Relief Fund. John Peters Seferian, Philadelphia. Through Messrs. D. Lebet- and fds Victor. Messrs. Camille Oulman, Paris. . . . Fes. 100 — Walfrath and Metzner, Neuchatel » 62 40 » i» Thos J. B Fes. 162 40 Messrs. N. de Rothschild and Sons, thro’ II. E. Sir H Elliot. Captain Bowden Smith—II. M. S. «Hercules Edinburgh Ladies’ Working Association . . . Collection by Free West Church, Helensburgh, per Me. Mi eking. Mr. James Watt, Bible Society Agent, Odessa . Mr. N. Burness .. Collection at Florence by Rev. Loftus Tottenham Liverpool Relief Committee. Collected British Legation Chapel, Athens, per Rev d’Arey.. County Berwick per Mr. Kinnaird. Edinburgh Ladies’ Working Association, per Dr. Thomson From Lord Provost of Perth per Dr. Thomson . Rev. I. 0. Burrows, Fred and Alice Burrows . Reg. Stuart Poole, British Museum. Gillebrand thro’ Rev. S. C. Trowbridge . . . U. C. Parkinson, Canada Road Baptist Chapel . Friends in America. Contributions in England, thro’ Rev. IT. Jones . Through Messrs. D. Lebet and fils Victor, from Buttes Fes. 32. From Miss E. Wigham, Treasurer of Edinburgh Ladies’ Working Association (including £ 40 from Lausanne,) per Dr. Thomson. Edinburgh &c. Relief Committee per Dr. Thomson . . Contributions in England thro’ Rev. H. Jones .... From the Lord Mayor. From Mayor of Liverpool. Mansion House .. Madame S. Meyer, Dresden, per Baron Testa .... Edinburgh Ladies’ Working Association per Dr. Thomson Journal de Geneve. Fes. 155 .... Colonel James Baker. Salonica, . .. Offering from a School boy. Cecil Buckland .. £ s d J Liras. Ps. 15.291 59 208 19 — 229 58 2 —— — 2 20 5 — 5 51 96 3 106 - : 9 1 9 98 2 — 205 11 — 227 13 200 220 50 1 1 10 7 101 500 _ 551 25 10 2 11 10 150 165 371 25 27 561 3 o O 30 2 — 29 32 05 400 442 — 7 11 9 8 35 27 1 9 29 691 60 66 — 13 5 14 51 1 40 o O 53 13 48 44 20 52 86 500 547 50 1 40 100 111 175 11 7 193 14 500 551 25 7 13 11 8 43 44 48 18 76 17 o O 84 54 11 — 60 86 — 6 74 o O — 01 1 1 — scribed £t. 19,204 541 2 REPORT OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF *09*00 0OI»94<,mo RELIEF FOR RULGARIA & c. The deplorable events which occurred during the spring and summer of the past year in Bulgaria and in other of the European provinces of the Turkish Empire, occasioned such widespread distress as imperatively to demand that steps should be taken to alleviate the sufferings of the people who had lost their dwellings, their livestock and agricultural implements, and who, in too many instances, had been reduced to utter destitution. Convinced of the necessity for making a strenuous effort of relief, those gentlemen, residents of Constantinople, who in 1874 were active members on the “Asia Minor Famine Relief Committee ”, formed the idea of creating at Constantinople a Central Committee for the purpose of collecting subscriptions in aid of the sufferers by the more recent calamity and of dis¬ tributing to the necessitous, without distinction of race or creed, the form of relief most adapted to their circumstances. Early in September 1876 the members of the Central Committee were all elected, his Plxcellency Sir Henry Elliot kindly consented to accept the presidency, the various officers of the Committee were selected, an address was prepared for circulation, and, on the 14th of the month, the first considerable contribution to its funds, in the form of a donation sent by the Rev. S. A. Steindthal of Manchester, having been received through the President, the Committee voted the first instal- ments of relief, namely LT. 800 for Batak, Dervent and other villages in the province of Philippopolis, and LT. 50 for the districts of Mitrovitza. A small Executive Committee was then elected, orders from the Imperial Government were obtained by which protection and ’assistance were secured, to the several Agents of the Committee,, circulars soliciting sub¬ scriptions were despatched throughout Europe and America, and no time was lost in applying sums received to the relief of the sufferers. The Executive Committee held regular sittings once a week, and special meetings were convened whenever immediate action appeared requisite. Agencies were promptly established in those centres where the need was most pressing — 11 — and where responsible persons could be found willing and able to undertake the arduous task of distribution. During the famine in Asia Minor, the American Mis¬ sionaries resident in the Turkish provinces, proved them¬ selves to be practical men of sound common sense who would willingly devote their whole time to a work of charity and suspend their ordinary duties to labour cheerfully, and with the strictest impartiality as regards creed, among the people whose ways of life and whose wants they, from long study, thoroughly understood: the Committee, therefore, naturally looked to the American Missionaries for assistance in the pre¬ sent emergency. Thus in the Philippopolis district the prof¬ fered services of Mr. Clarke, for many years resident in Rou- melia, aided as treasurer and accountant by Mr. Bond, were gladly accepted. Mr. Marsh conducted the distribution at Boyadjik and Yamboli, and Mr. Flocken, at Rustchuk, undertook to supervise the work of relief in the provinces of Widdin, Sivlievo, and Gabrova. The district of Mitrovitza was confided to Mr. Klundt, an Agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, who undertook the office of distributor for this extensive region at the request and on the recommendation of his chief, the Rev. A. Thomson, D.D., while Messrs. Herboldt and Heringer, of the same Society, assisted Mr. Flocken. The arrangements made at the commencement of the work were shortly afterwards in some places modified. For instance, at Rustchuk, a sub-Committee was formed, under the presidency of Mr. Reade, H. M.’s Consul and consisting of Mr. Flocken, Mr. Harrower, Inspector in Chief of the Rustchuk and Varna Railway, Mr. Heintz, Director of the Imperial Ottoman Bank, Messrs Sorensbury and Elief, of the American^ Mission, and Mr. Kyossa, of the British and Foreign Bible Society ; while in the Philippopolis district it was soon evident that the work to be done was so varied in its nature and. extended over so wide an area that it would be highly desirable to despatch special Agents in that direction as soon as the funds at the disposal of the Committee should be sufficiently large to war¬ rant such a step being taken. At the latter end of October, contributions having either come in or been promised, the Committee secured the valuable services, of Mr. W. L. Stoney, C.E., who, with Mr. Isidore (Radziwonowicz) as assistant, started for Philippopolis on the 25th of the month to work in co-ope¬ ration with Messrs. Clarke and Bond. These gentlemen received general directions explanatory of the principles by which the Central Committee were guided, but matters of detail were left to their own judgment, and they were requested to confer with the — 12 Committee established at Philippopolis, with Lady Strangford and with any other relief agency that might later on appear on the scene, with a view to an understanding as to a division of work, and to affording what assistance lay in their power to others engaged in a similar charitable mission. The Committee not only kept its Agencies supplied with funds, but purchased at Constantinople, at different times, medicines to the value of LT. 50, and 540 articles of native clothing for Philippopolis, 200 blankets and bed-coveiings for Rustchuk, and 517 blankets for Mitrovitza, besides forwarding to Philippopolis 26, to Rustchuk 6, and to Mitrovitza 13, bales of blankets and clothing received from the charitable in England. Of these bales the greater portion, and—as they mostly contained blankets—the really useful portion, were received from the Committee presided over by the Mayor of Liverpool. On one occasion 15 bales of blankets were forwarded by this Committee, and these were equally divided between the three agencies. A question to which the Committee gave its serious attention at an early period of its existence was that of providing the shattered communities with the means of gaining their future livelihood. It was with this object that the work in the Rose gardens was undertaken, and that the purchase of oxen, ploughs and seed was made. The Committee were anxious, when once the most pressing wants were satisfied, to devote the bulk of their resources to the purchase of oxen, &c., and for this purpose husbanded their funds in the oft renewed hope that peace would soon be res¬ tored to the country. This hope has been destined to disap¬ pointment, but the Committee feel that their action has been judicious, their apprehensions being justified by the recent out¬ break of war ; for while cattle have been supplied to those w T hose existence seemed to depend upon its possession, the funds of the charitable have not been, to an extent which under present circumstances might be considered excessive, invested in live stock and thus exposed to sequestration or requisition at the hands of the belligerents. When peace is again secured the Committee are prepared to complete their unfinished operations, but for the present, unless any pressing cases of want present themselves, they consider it best to suspend all relief in those provinces threatened with the passage of troops and with in¬ vasion by foreign armies. In submitting to the subscribers the annexes to the pre¬ sent report the Committee wish to observe that, with the exception of the Committee-men, the Constantinople public has not been canvassed for subscriptions. The stagnation of trade and other causes have combined to induce the Com- 13 mittee to postpone from time to time the collection of local donations; they must now wait for the return of peace, the revival of commerce and the creation of a degree of prosperity that does not at present exist in the Turkish Capital. The notes of aid dispensed by the different Agencies, and the accounts with which this report closes, will give to the subscribers a general idea of the work performed up to the present moment, and of the manner in which the Central Com¬ mittee of Constantinople have acquitted themselves of their self imposed task. In conclusion, the Central Committee beg to record their sincere acknowledgements to the subscribers to the fund and to the Committees formed at the Mansion House in London under the presidency of the Lord Mayor, and in Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and other towns of the United Kingdom, for the liberality with which they came to the assistance of suffering humanity. Nor would the present report be complete without offering the thanks of the Committee for their very able assistance, to Messrs. Clarke, Marsh, Bond, Stoney, Isidore (Radziwonowicz), Klundt, Flocken, Gabriel Elief, Herboldt, Heringer, Natchoff, and the other distributors of the Fund. The devotion shown by these gentlemen is beyond all praise, and the Committee feel that they owe the successful accomplishment of their mission to their Agents’ knowledge of the requirements of the people, and the zeal and intelligence of their distributors. The thanks of the Committee are also due to the Roumelian Railway Com¬ pany, under the direction of Mr. Kuhlmann, for the generous permission granted to their Agents to travel free of charge over the lines of the Company and for the gratuitous transport of all bales of blankets and clothing destined for the relief of the sufferers in European Turkey. Constantinople, 20th June, 1877. WILLIAM H. WRENCH, Honorary Secretary to Central and Executive Committees. — 14 — PIIILIPPOPOLIS DISTRICT. The following remarks are furnished by Mr. W. L. Stoney, C. E., as explanatory of the work done in the Philippopolis district, and are headed and placed in the same manner and order as in the account of expenditure. Hospitals of Batak and Radilovo.—These buildings were erected by Mr. Clarke in September and October 1876, to serve as Refuges and Soup Kitchens, and were of great service to the homeless and sick. They were at a subsequent period handed over to, and the outlay incurred was reimbursed by, Lady Strangford when she had organised her staff of Doctors and Nurses. Clothing was made of native material and by native work¬ men. All the available home-spun cloth of the country (“Shyah 1 ’ and “Aba”) was purchased, and orders for more were given. A double benefit was in this way rendered. When Lady Strangford had organised her system of distribution of clothing, this branch of relief was also handed over to her, and value was received from her for the amount expended by the Central Relief Committee. Bedding.' —The heavy goats’-hair rugs, as also the thick woollen blankets of the country, were issued as far as possible, but the supply being limited, blankets of European make w r ere imported.. Pood. —In several villages it was found necessary to supply prepared food for a time, as the people had lost their cooking utensils. Grain for Food. —Later on, wdien the stores of the poorest were exhausted and those of the rest wearing low, a distribu¬ tion was made of rye, barley, and maize, and this form of relief was of all others the most acceptable. During the months of February, March, and April, in 59 villages, 9,870 families received 10,911 kilos of grain, (equal to 14,613 cwts) at a cost of LT. 3,136. Grain FOR Seed was not so much required, as the Govern¬ ment had already supplied it in many instances for the autumn sowing. During the winter but little work could be done, and the spring sowing of grain was in a great measure prevented by the long continued wet and cold weather; further, in many villages the people had no ploughs or oxen, and these the Committee did not feel itself authorized to supply on a large scale. Wool.— In every family the women and girls occupy their — 15 spare moments in spinning woollen thread and manufacturing “Shyak” and “Aba” cloth. The loss of their sheep left them without necessary material, and withal, too much leisure to brood over their misfortunes. Thus a few okes of wool to each family was a great boon. Mats woven of reeds are to be found in every house, and are used to lay on the ground, before spreading the goats’-hair blanket, which forms the only bed . of the poor. Building.— The Government Commission sitting at Philip- popolis, commenced the work of reconstructing the burned villages, about the end of September, but it was not for a month later that they can be said to have got regularly to work. Timber had to be cut and carted from the forests, and skilled labour was scarce. Each Turkish village near the mountain forests, was obliged to cut a certain amount of timber, and the inhabitants of those villages in course of construction, who had oxen, were forced to cart the timber from the mountain. Government supplied the skilled labour necessary, and, not wishing to keep their men idle, naturally began with those houses for which the materials were on the spot. In this way the poorer classes, who had not the means of transport at their disposal, were in danger of being overlooked. At this juncture, the Central Relief Committee came to their aid with building materials, such as timber, nails, hinges, &c., pur¬ chased at Philippopolis and Bazardjik, which they sent out and distributed to the poorest of each village, at the same time pressing upon the Government officers the necessity of building for the poor first. —[And here the Committee wishes to bear testimony to the courtesy ever shown by the members of the Government Commission sitting at Philippopolis, and to the readiness with which any suggestions for the advancement of the work were received. What assistance the Agents of the Central Committee were able to afford was cordially and grate¬ fully acknowledged and accepted. There was no jealous rivalry evinced, but on the contrary a spirit of hearty co-operation]. —Building operations were suspended about the middle oi January, in consequence of the impossibility of transporting timber from the forest through the snow, but this did not occur before every family had at least a temporary shelter, and the works have since the spring been resumed by the Government. Money. —Although it was the expressed desire of the Central Committee that relief should, as far as possible, be given in kind, still instances presented themselves where it was 16 — necessary to make exceptions, notably in the case of the widows of Turks, killed during the insurrection, as also of the widows and families of Bulgarians, who had taken refuge in villages not their own. Oxen to the number of 440 have been purchased and dis¬ tributed amongst 22 villages. It was considered advisable, for several reasons, that they should be lent , not given, and that each ox should bear a horn mark, the letters C R C, and a number, by which the ox may be recognised —-a precaution (in times of peace at least) against tax collectors and cattle stealers. A small charge per month is made for each pair sufficient to cover the wages of an Agent employed to go round the district to inspect the stock, and see that the oxen work for the poorest of each village. Mr. Clarke has kindly undertaken the general direction of this branch of relief, and the Agent em¬ ployed by him is a respectable man in whom he has con¬ fidence. Farming implements.— A native plough was given with each pair of oxen, and in some instances an “araba” or waggon. Labour in Rose Gardens.— The cultivation of Roses and manufacture of the Otto form an important feature in some parts of Roumelia, especially in the Valley of the Geuk-Su, which lies at the foot of the Great Balkans and extends from Dervent or Clissura to Karlova. At Clissura and Sindjirli, two villages which had been completely destroyed, the inhabitants were employed to dig the rose gardens before the setting in of the winter frosts, and thus the crop of this year was saved, which would otherwise have been lost. At Clissura, during 6 weeks, about 250 persons, men, women, and boys were employed, earning wages varying from 2—4 piastres per day. Agents .—The great extent of the district of Philippopolis, and the feeling that no time should be lost, rendered it necessary to have a large staff' of sub-Agents and distributors. These men to the number of 14, were, with one exception, Bulgarians, men recommended by the members of the American Mission at Samakov, or by leading merchants of Philippopolis, and their monthly salaries, exclusive of travelling expenses, varied from £.T. 3 to £.T. 5. The direction and control of this staff were in the hands of Mr. Clarke of Samakov and the special Agents of the Central Committee Messrs Stoney and Isidore. After the retirement of Mr. Clarke, in the month of January, and the transfer of the further distribution of clothing to Lady Strang- ford, Mr. Stoney was able to reduce his staff to four sub-Agents. The entire cost of distribution in the district does not come up to 10 per cent, although much horse-hire is necessarily — 17 included as well as cost of escort, which, for obvious reasons, is best defrayed by the party escorted, more especially when it is known that he must carry gold with him. The number of villages visited by Messrs Stoney and Isidore exceeds 200, of which 66 figure on their relief list, apart from 10 or 42 others, to which they have lately sent money by the hands of Mr. Clarke. Amongst the 66 villages are included 5 Turkish, burned by the Bulgarians. Finding that no existing map of the country was trust¬ worthy, Messrs. Stoney and Isidore have compiled one from actual observation, which accompanies this report. The names of the villages wholly or in part burned are underlined in the map. 3 Philippopolis district in account with the Dr. Receipts. To Cash received by Mr. Clarke in various sums from the Central Relief Committee, between September 15th 1876 and January 12th 1877 ... . » » » Cash received by Mr. Clarke from Liverpool, £450 . Cash collected from Bulgarians. Agio on gold. » Cash received bv Mr. Stoney in various sums from the Central Relief Committee between October 25th 1876 and April 14th 1877 . Less balance returned to treasurer Mr. A. Lebet. . » Value of clothing received from Central Relief Committee.. » Value of medicines received from Central Relief Committee. .............. » Cash received from Mr. A. Lebet .. £ T PS. 495 — 2 17 3 90 j 8.000 491 10 83 90 49 44} £T. 2.470 501 7,508 133 256 PS. 07} 90 34} 30 £t. 10,869] 61} 19 Central Relief Committee, Constantinople. Expenditure. Ch. » By H °bS t Batah 7 .. 202.09^ Furnishing..» 55.96* Current Expenses to Jan. 12th 1877. . . . . » 14.19} Hospital at Radilovo :— Building and furnishing.. Clothing.* • Bedding...*. Food (soup, meat, bread, &c.). Grain for food. Grain for seed. . .... Medicine... Wool... Mats. Reconstruction of houses. Money given in relief. . . . . • • • • • • • • • * Oxen (purchase, distribution, superintendence, &c.). . . . Farming and household implements, &c. Labour in Rose Gardens. Freight on wool and clothing. Commission on forwarding goods. Rent of office and magazine.. Office expenses, stationery, telegrams, postage, &c. Loss on exchange. . . . . .. Expense of rescued children from Batak to Samakov. . . . Purchase of 2 horses. — Saddlery repairs &c, » Agents. Salaries.—W. L. Stoney £t. 256.30, Isidore Radziwono- wicz. £t. 99.— ..* * Travelling expenses, escort, &c.. Native Agents.—Salaries and travelling expenses. • Mav 31 -Balance in hands of Mr. Clarke in course of distribution in the form of provisions, grain, cash, &c. in Samakov and Raslog districts.. » t *.. ■ _ £t. Constantinople, 20th June 1877, £T. 272 90 885 382 173 3.139 121 52 1.020 64 1.384 465 1.489 52 115 27 2 12 19 6 3 21 203 363 PS. 25f 52 93 \ 59 1 32 71 371 61J 661 86 44 1 99 15| 20 32 31 f 83f 40 42 f 19 | 96 97 | 30 76 4 3 97.1 10.728 11 141 50 10,869,61} W. L. STONEY, Special Agent of Central Relief Committee, . .■ » ♦ l ' . ... • * ■ i *• * . . . . * 1 * ■ . ) i * 21 — MITROVITZA DISTRICT. Mitrovitza. —Mr. Klundt started on his mission as soon as he was in receipt of the order of the Imperial Government for his protection. He commenced operations by supplying food, clothing, and the means of purchasing both to the poorest of the villages occupying both banks of the river Ibor. Up to the 15th May, at which date his accounts are balanced, he had distributed 4,376 pikes (of 26 inches) of native cloth, 14,481 of calico, 2,104 pairs of sandals, 217,613 okes (of 2.8 lbs) of maize, 4,552 okes of beans, 954‘- okes of salt, besides providing- bread, meat, firewood, medicines, and 665 sacks. He had also distributed the 517 blankets purchased by the Central Com¬ mittee and the contents of the bales sent from England, with the exception latterly of articles of European clothing, which were at his request sold at Salonica, the proceeds being passed to the credit of the fund. When sending in his last accounts, Mr. Klundt represented that thousands of people who had taken refuge in Servia were returning in the utmost destitution to the Mitrovitza district, funds were accordingly forwarded by the Committee to meet this new want. Again, the Rev. Dr. Thomson, who recently visited this region, while testifying to the energy and ability displayed by Mr. Klundt in the execution of his onerous task, urged on i.he Committee the necessity of despatching still further funds, an additional grant was, therefore, made on the 15th inst. Thus the Mitrovitza Agency, which is the only one now carrying out systematic measures of relief, is debited with a large sum at yet unaccounted for: this balance, however, will have been to a great extent already laid out in relief. — 22 — Mitrovitza district in account with the Receipts. To Cash received per Dr. Thomson from Central Relief Committee » Cash received from Central Relief Committee per Dr. Thomson and Mr. Crosbie up to 15th May. 150 1761 48 » Value of Redding received from Central Relief Committee . » Contribution from Andria Risto Velevi. 166 44 905 2078 85 1877 May 15 To Balance in hands of Mr. Klundt. June 15 » Cash since remitted. ......... £T. 167.431 » 488.52 £t. 655.95| «K — 23 — Central Relief Committee of Constantinople. Expenditure. Cr. By Clothing.*.* • * » Bedding (sent by C.R.C.). ••••••• » Food, Provisions . .. » Medicine...*.. * » Money. » Household implements.. 4 » Mats.... » Miscellaneous.... » Freight and porterage on Clothing and Food .. » Office Expenses, rent, stationery, postages, telegrams. &c . » AgenCs Salary, travelling expenses, escort, &c ..... . May 15. Balance in hands of Mr. Klundt .......... £t. £T. PS. 473 06 166 44 1161 731 — 60f 35 35f 1 68f 4 71| — 22f 15 58f 7 93 44 08 1911 421 167 431 2078 CO CJI Certified as agreeing with Mr. Klundt’s account to 15th May 1877. Constantinople, 20th June 1877. W. L. STONEY, Acting as Accountant for the Central Committee. 5v ii >1 ;n * . . * . . - , . . . . , , , $ . . . « „. tit J> r. » * # *■ • * « "• * ♦ . . * • * • .#****« I , « . » . . . , » ■ . , . ■ t • '■ — 25 RUSTCHUK SUB-COMMITTEE. Rustchuk .—On the 6th October the Central Committee, in consequence of letters received from Mr. Herboldt at Gabrova and Mr. Heringer at Widdin, forwarded to these gentlemen LT. 100 each for distribution in those towns and neighbour¬ hoods. Relieving parties were at once organised and the Rustchuk sub-Committee, established prior to the end of the month, superintended their operations. The result has been that in the* district of Gabrova-Sivlievo 9,395 articles of native clothing, 287 native blankets, 1,544 reed mats, 7o pieces of calico, 5,604Jr okes (of 2.8 lbs,) of salt, 105,313 okes of corn meal and 779 okes of soap, as well as 8 pairs of oxen, have been purchased and distributed. About 10,000 people contained in 7 villages and several farms participated in the receipt of relief. In the Widdin district, 1,270 articles of clothing, 62 pieces of calico, 110 boards for doors and windows, 98 okes of nails and other ironwork, and considerable quantities of food and salt were bought and given to the refugees in Widdin and to the people in 7 villages, amongst whom were several Tartar families (Mussulmans), who had lost all by the Servian War. Owing to the proximity of these localities to the Servian frontier, the sub-Committee was obliged greatly to restrict relief measures. Besides 5 bales of blankets received through Mr. Baxter, of the Liverpool Committee, and one bale of clothing, forwarded to Rustchuk by the Central Committee, the sub-Com¬ mittee received from the inhabitants of the towns of Rustchuk, Tirnova, and Gabrova 25 packages of clothing and a variety of useful articles for the poor. Mr. Christo Markoff, one of the distributing Agents in the Gabrova district, unhappily lost his life from typhoid fever while in the service of the Committee, leavi ig behind him a widow and orphan in reduced circumstances ; on the represen¬ tations of the Rustchuk sub-Committee, a grant of LT. 20 was made towards their support. 4 — 26 Bustchuk sub-Committse in account with the Dr. Receipts. To Cash received in various sums between Oct. 5, 1876, and Dec. 15, 1876. •••••• Value ot bedding received from the Central Relief Com¬ mittee ... • ■ • Contributed by Bulgarian ladies of Gabrova . . . . Ps. 5,000 » » Copt. Ardagh.» 9° Value of pair of gaiters sold.. . Agio on gold. » » » » » » 40 60 £t. 2,200 66 20 » » Amount received from private individuals. » gained on exchange. Ps. 5,190)20 £t. 47 16 4 PS. 91 2,335 46* 18 } 54 83 — 27 — Central Relief Committee of Constantinople. Expenditure. By » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » Clothing... Bedding. Food.'.. • Medicine. .... Reconstruction of houses.. Mats.. Oxen,—purchase, distribution, &c. .. Farming and household implements.. Money given in relief.. Office expenses stationary, postage, telegrams, &c. Freight on goods.. Expense attending sickness and burial of Christo Markoff, native Agent.5.01 Donation to his widow and family.. 20,00 Freight, telegrams, postage, &c.. Agents, salaries, travelling expenses, &c.. Balance handed over to Mr. Reade, .. £t. £f. PS. 1,229 36 \ 108 m 543 47^ ■— 97} 11 08* 120 93 70 64 £ 2 18 25 92* 7 19 11 36 * 25 01 15 91 140 55 22 21 2,335 46* Certified as agreeing with the accounts forwarded by the Rustchuk sub-Committee. Constantinople, 20th June 1877. W. L. STONEY, Acting as Accountant for the Central Committee. — 2 & — BOYADJIK AND YAMBOLI DISTRICT. Boyadjik and Yamboli— Mr. Marsh commenced his work at Boyadjik by purchasing carpenter’s tools to assist the people in the reconstruction of their houses, and by supplying 3 okes (of 2.8 lbs.) of wool to each widow. A total of 676 okes of wool was thus distributed, 5 weaving machines and 5 reeling and carding machines were also given. At a subsequent date, 72 oxen, 5 waggons, and 30 ploughs for the general use of the people were given out: thus wheat was sown in good season. Mr. Marsh received some LT. 18 from Bulgarians in the .district, which he devoted to the reconstruction of houses.—At Yamboli, Mr. Marsh confined himself to the distribution of flour, of which 15,868 okes were purchased and given away among about 120 families. 30 Boyadjik district in account with the Dr. Receipts. To Amount of cash received of the Central Relief Committee at various dates.. » Gain on exchange... » Subscribed by Bulgarians £r. 620 5 18 643 PS. 36 ± 36A Central Relief Committee of Constantinople- Expenditure . By Clothing. » Wool. » Reconstruction of houses. » Oxen. — Purchase, distribution, &c. . » Farming and household implements. . » Office expenses, postage, telegrams, &c » Agent’s travelling expenses. £t. 1J 71 23 297 38 1 7 451 PS. 86 45 29 95 04 26 99 86 By Expenditure at Yamboli, Flour.. Travelling expenses and buying £t. 188.— » 3.50 £T. 191 643 50 3&i Certified as agreeing with Mr. Marsh’s accounts. Constantinople, 20th June 1877. W. L. STONEY, Acting as Accountant for the Central Committee. •—I y the Honorary Secretary of the two Committees, Mr. Vice-Consul Wrench. With a vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Mr. Tamvaco and seconded by Mr. Pedemonte, the proceedings closed at 3 p.m. i Hahnmnfi- iano ha* Iiisiani [aiolxko - lAchikUu*® V. i JOfolleler U £■. . i*\ . . I MilrrisuvuC^ l em-keui iN'nvn 5eIoj Kt-fLsIo" g) llith ft an lissn,.? 4 D OM( |ji> zaro «i S'aiM-P uoL iWnakow iv ! 1 \ navouy