Mateos was deported with his family to Aleppo. 3 months after their arrival they were sent further on to Der-el-Zor and they lived two months there. Afterwards an order came from Constantinople that all Armenians should be deported to the Syrian deserts. Der-el-Zor had been the center of hundred thousand Armenians who had come from all parts of the Turkish Empire.
Thousands and thousands of Armenians were sent to the Hassitshe region and most of them were massacred on the road. Mateos, however, fled to a nomadic tribe and was received there. He became a shepherd and lived six years among the Arabs. Being ill-treated he fled to a village named Golia near Mardin, there he lived three years.
When Armenians were emigrating he fled to Hassitshe, our agent met him there and sent him to us.
Left our care: June 15, 1924. Selfsupporting, Trade. |