"Certainly—that is, if you have no European allies."
"Why so?"
"Because, if your Government had to put out all its strength to conquer the Servians assisted by only 12,000 Russians, what opposition will it be able to make to an army of 700,000 Muscovites?"
"May their mothers be defiled!" said an old farmer. "They are always interfering with us. All my sons have gone to the war, and I—well, if the Padishah wants me, I will go too."
He was apparently an octogenarian. This announcement on his part was received with great applause by the rest of the company.
"Why do you not give the Armenians arms, and make them assist?" I inquired.
"They are friends with the Russians," said the Imaum. "They would turn against us. Have you Armenians in your country?"
"No."
"But you are a Christian, and they are Christians—you must be the same."
I now had to explain to the company that there is as much difference between an English Protestant and an Armenian Christian, as between a Sunnite and a Shiite.