traming, I should have no hesitation in combating, if necessary, the whole Zoolu army. To these brief remarks, far too cursory for the importance of the subject, which, I trust, will find an abler advocate, I will only add my sincere hope that, for the security and permanency (under the Divine blessing) of the missionaries about to be sent to that country, the appeal to his majesty's government, contained in the petition inserted above, may not have been urged in vain; but contribute to such a result as may conduce, not only to the well-being of that infant settlement, but to the manifestation of the Gospel of grace, and the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom from the shores of Victoria to the very confines of Abyssi nia. One word to British Christians, and the patient reader who has followed me thus far is released. The Committee of the Church Missionary Society, to whom application for succor was immediately made on my arrival in England, have, I am thankful to say, accepted the two stations of Berea and Culoola as they now stand, as well as the entire management and control of the Zoolu mission in future; but from their absolute inability to supply the laborers for the work, it is very doubtful whether they will be enabled to carry their purpose into execution. To appeal to you, under such circumstances, is a duty which you will readily admit; and, although it should touch a string which has often been strained before, and is still vibrating to the latest call of Christian philanthropy, I feel assured that it is only to make known the circumstances and urgency of the case to meet with your cheerful and warmest support. Let it not be said that teachers are reluctant to go when nations are willing to be taught-that injured, benighted Africa, groping through the thick darkness, calls unheeded for your aid, and stretches out her hands to you in vain. Much as there is undoubtedly to be done at home, are there none willing to spend and be spent in the cause of their ever-blessed Redeemer abroad? Is the path, once so humbly and so holily pursued by a Schwartz, a Brainard, and a Martyn, become too hard and too self-denying for the modern disciples of Him, who, though he was rich, yet for our sake became poor-who bore our griefs and carried our sorrows-who not only loved us, but gave himself for us? Melancholy, indeed, would be the condition of that people, who (calling themselves Christians) could calmly sit down to count the cost, while millions were perishing for lack of knowledge; but far less enviable is the state of that heart, which cares not to respond when the ministers of the most high God point themselves to the path of missionary labor. It is to you, then, my fellow-Christians, that (under the guidance and blessing of God) we look for support; and could I but hear you reply, "Although we cannot of ourselves go forth, we will plead the poor African's cause at the throne of grace, and make special supplication unto Him, with whom is the residue of the spirit, that He will incline the hearts of many of his faithful servants willingly to offer themselves as laborers in the vineyard he has so graciously opened," I should then feel assured, not only that the blessing implored would descend in abundance upon that parched and thirsty soil, "making the wilderness to blossom as the rose," but also that you yourselves would experience the refreshing dews in your own souls. Let us never forget the wild shouts of our forefathers who immolated their offspring at the foot of their idols; and, as we have so freely received, let us also freely give, not our money only, but es pecially our prayers, and (when the path of duty seems clearly evident) our very selves, a living, holy, acceptable sacrifice-always bearing in mind the injunction of an inspired apostle" Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your own body and your spirit, which are God's."-(1 Cor. vi. 19.) THE END THE ZOOLU'S PRAYER. Hark! a voice on Albion's shore, It is the blood-stained Zoolu's prayer, And bid her thraldom cease. Haste! haste!-to us direct your way, We perish if you now delay God's word we long to hear! Gladden our hearts with that good news, Nor fear that we will e'er refuse What now we hold so dear! We love to hear the white man tell And suffered in their stead! As you were once bereft of light, Without one star to guide! Your God will all provide ! And when your day of trial 's o'er, In realms of light above; PREFACE. IN the following pages, many of the author's observations are given in the form of a Journal. It would not, indeed, have been difficult to subdivide the volume into parts, each furnishing a separate account of the different classes of society to be found in Syria and Palestine. Since, however, that small country does, in fact, present an epitome of nearly all the bodies of men existing around the Mediterranean, it is evident, that, in such a partition of subjects, some would have been found too inconsiderable to form by themselves a detached chapter. The want of lucid order, incidental to this mode of publication, will appear, however, to be, in a considerable measure, remedied by the introductory section of the work; in which, by means of an extensive compilation from a variety of authors there is presented to the reader a classified view of the different bodies of men existing in Syria and Palestine. gether with the nations more immediately in relation with them-MODERN GREECE-TURKEY IN EUROPE AND ASIA-ARMENIA, and the neighboring regions—PERSIA, SYRIA, and PALESTINE (the review of which is, in the present volume, in a considerable measure, executed)-ARABIA-EGYPT and NUBIA-ABYSSYNIA-and the BARBARY STATES. An intelligent investigation of the condition of these various regions, prosecuted by the different missionaries in a truly Christian spirit, with accuracy of observation, sound judgment, meekness of temper, and a practical determination of mind, would furnish to the conductors of missionary and Bible societies, and to missionaries actually on service, an invaluable depository of information, on which to form their opinions and direct their measures. It is however fully to be borne in mind, that such a system of research forms only a part-a small, and continually decreasing part, of the work In the sections which follow the journal, the of a missionary. Enough has, indeed, been already author has aimed at developing more fully than effected, to open an introduction to immediate and his journal had done, the condition of the people; important labors. The various Christian societies not without an ardent hope, that the picture exhi- of our own country, of the continent, and of bited may be the means of rousing the public to a America, would probably all of them concur in this deeper sense of their obligations to prosecute Chris- judgment, and many of them are acting upon it. tian missions in this part of the world. Various But the spirit and the measures of all need a vast suggestions, the result of frequent communication enlargement. It is high time for the faithful memwith the men of intelligence and piety, are like-bers of Christ to be instant in their supplications wise offered, in reference to character of missio- to Him, who is the great Head over all things to naries and the measures of missionary and Bible the church-that He would vouchsafe to pour out societies. the gift of His Holy Spirit more abundantly than The Church Missionary Society has felt the ad- ever, preparing all the nations by a feeling of anxvantage of the system of research thus far conduct-ious expectation of some great event, and at the ed, with sufficient force to desire that it should be, in its proportion, steadily pursued. It would be desirable for the public to be furnished with an exact view of the circumstances and opinions of the following principal countries-the PAPAL STATES, to same time sending forth a numerous company of Evangelists to visit all the dark places of the earth in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ. CHRISTIAN RESEARCHES. JEWS. RABBINISTS- ARAITES-SAMARITANS. In describing the different classes of people who et present dwell in Syria and the Holy Land, it is natural to give the first place to that nation, which, in the most ancient periods of history, possessed so considerable a portion of this territory, by the title of a special gift from heaven. What we might almost term, the Divine Nobility of this race, is briefly and energetically sketched in those words of Scripture:-"Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen." (Rom. ix. 4, 5.) No Master of Heraldry ever pronounced such a majestic train of titles: no country, not the proudest, can present, in a condensed form, such a splendid record of its privileges and distinctions. There does not, nor ever did there exist, such a remarkable nation as that of the Jews-a people terrible from their beginning hitherto ! This family of the children of Abraham-attainted and despoiled of its heritage, but not extinct still lingers, a small part of it at least, upon the paternal estate; anxious to be found on the spot, at the moment of the appearance, daily and hourly expected, of their Deliverer and Restorer; or, in the event of their death, fondly deeming it meritorious to be gathered to the grave of their fathers. From Aleppo to Jerusalem, Jews are to be found in all the principal cities: in Mount Lebanon there are but few. The author, in a future part of this volume, gives an account of them, principally in those places which he visited. The distinction between the two leading divisions of the Jews is extremely simple-the Rabbinical, who are attached to a multitude of human traditions and commentaries; and the Karaites, who adhere to the simple text of the Scriptures of the Old Testament. Besides this leading distinction, there is another, which is of a national kind; that between Jews and Samaritans. It may, indeed, very reasonably be doubted how far the Samaritans have a claim to be classed with the descendants of Abraham. A fuller discussion of this point than could be allowed in this preliminary chapter, will be found in a subsequent part of this volume. It seemed, however, not improper to class under this head, a body which professes to ground its religion entirely upon the five books of Moses. There are, further, distinctions among the Jews, arising from differences in their modes of worship, or from refinements of speculative opinion. Such are the sects of the Spanish and Polish Jews, the Hassidim, &c. of which some notice will appear in that part of the following Journal which describes Tiberias. CHRISTIANS. If pure Christianity consists in the enjoyment of the light of Revelation; in the exercise of faith, hope, and charity; and in the maintenance of the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace-then must it be mournfully admitted, that the professors of our most holy faith have, in Syria and Palestine, wandered very far indeed from the truth and simplicity of the Gospel. Darkness and discord share the dominion here. It is true that there is no part of the Christian world into which these foul spirits have not, in various degrees, found entrance: but, in our present survey, the sight of them is doubly painful; while we contemplate the intensity of their influence, and the melancholy fact, that they should be here ruling in that very sphere, where the religion of light and love was first promulgated. We must not shrink, however, from faithfully delineating the picture. If the scornful feelings of the infidel should begin to kindle at the description, let him reflect that here is no triumph over Christianity, but a developement of erring human nature. That professing Christians have departed from the purity of the faith, no more tends toward a refutation of Christianity, than the errors of idolatry and polytheism to deprave the doctrine of the eternal Godhead. Does a reflecting man doubt the truth, that there is One God, because the myriads of the heathen have worshipped stocks, and stones, and beasts, and reptiles? Neither ought the faith of any Christian man to be shaken, by seeing that the professors of Christianity have multiplied schisms and heresies. All these facts serve but to prove the infirmity and sinfulness of human nature: they cannot shake the truth of Revelation. Although the evidence of the doctrine be not apparent in Palestine, yet there is, in the Christian church, "one body, and one Spirit, even as we are called in one hope of our calling : One Lord, one faith, one baptism; One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all." (Eph. iv. 4-6.) He who prays for a spiritual participation of the blessings expressed in that passage, and he alone, may, with safety and with painful profit, contemplate the following details. The professing Christians of Syria and Palestine may be thus classed: Greeks, of the proper Oriental Church- |