tinues: we are quite confined to the house; which, as there are no glass-windows, is very uncomfortable. We are obliged to shut up the lattices with the wooden shutters, and sit almost in the dark. I asked the family how they manage in the long dreary weather of winter: they replied, that they entirely shut up the rooms, and use lamps in the day-time. This, three months afterward, I found to be the only method, living whole days by candle-light.

In the evening, the family meet to smoke-talkhear some new thing, or some old thing-yawn→→ and retire to bed. From half-past-six o'clock at the present season (at which hour they, in five minutes, swallow their supper), to half-past eight, this is their habit. Several evenings they have read the Arabian Nights' Entertainments; and they seem marvellously amused with the gross fabrications contained in that book: the greater the falsehood, the greater seems their diversion. They are yet children. In understanding be men, would be a text lost on them. This evening I explained the method of calculating the distance of a thundercloud from the interval between the flash and the sound, a problem of the simplest nature, which I have known ever since I was a boy: though I happened to have a good interpreter, so that I am sure the whole was sufficiently explained; and though I expected that the tempest about our ears would render it the more interesting, yet it excited scarcely any attention, and probably was not understood, or possibly not believed.

Friday, Oct. 10-I had to witness to-day one of those painful scenes of the undue influence of Ecclesiastical Rule, which they only can enter into,

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who have seen, in countries like our own, Christian Liberty blessed with its proper fruits. Conversing. with my Arabic Reader, I said, "Mr. King and myself wish to sell as many of the Scriptures as we can." Copies, for this purpose, were in the house. He said he was aware of this; but that the sale of them had been prohibited by the Pope. "In this country," said he, "whatever the Pope tells us, we do." 66 But," I said, "God commands men to read the Sacred Scriptures." "I know that," he replied;" and I cannot comprehend why the Pope should forbid it—especially as the book is the same Version as ours, and so very cheap: perhaps it is that these Holy Books may not be torne or dirtied by children-they are therefore kept in churches." But," said I," in this family, there is your father: you are five brethren: thus there are six who know how to take care of a book; and, in some families, there are no children, or they are grown up." True," he answered; "but the people at large are taught to refuse them." "Well," I said, "God has given us the sun: if Satan put up his hand before it to turn the day into night, would you not think it an act worthy of Satan?" He readily acknowledged this. I bid him apply the comparison to all who would prohibit the reading of the Sacred Scriptures. I added—“ While you remain willingly under this yoke of ignorance, do you not feel as if you deserved to remain under the Turkish Yoke?".

In the evening, my host mentioned to one of the Priests who was visiting, that I should go to Jerusalem. I began to talk with them of Christ. Crucified. The Priest, a very aged man, began to talk of the Cross. My host asked where the Cross was:

the Priest told a very long story about its discovery-its being transported to Constantinople, &c. "But," I said, "this Cross was wood: our Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered upon it, is yet alive in heaven, near to every one of us: He can give life to our hearts." The Priest looked half-amazed. My host further explained my meaning aloud. "He says"-quoting me-" that that Cross, which the Empress Helen found, was wood." "Yes," said the Priest," but HOLY WOOD." I again began my remarks; to which, however, no further notice was paid. That line of a Hymn came into my mind:

"Christ, and his Cross, is all our theme!"

-now in what manner would this poor Priest have taken up this theme? He would probably have told his congregation a long story about the Empress Helen, interwoven with many miraculous circumstances; and the Service would have concluded, with the people's thronging to kiss a piece of the holy wood of the true Cross! May the Missionaries of the West bring these people out of their darkness, by truly preaching Christ and him crucified! Saturday, Oct. 11, 1823-The stormy weather has ceased. I am informed, that, in Deir el Kamr, about one-third of the population are Greek Catholics, one third Maronites, and one third Druses. The difference between Greek Catholics (or, as they call themselves, Melchites,) and Maronites, is, that the Greek Catholics use Arabic and Greek in their Services; but the Maronites, Syriac and Carshun. Both acknowledge the supremacy of the Pope. The Maronites appear to be the genuine natives of Mount Lebanon-the Greeks, whether of the Ori

ental Church or converts to the Papacy, appear to be descendants of the Greek Empire. There may be, one tells me, about one hundred of the Oriental Greeks (not Romanists, but those called, the Orthodox,) in the Mountains: but not more. In Damascus, they are numerous; and have a Patriarch, entitled Patriarch of Antioch. In Aleppo, Beirout, Saide, and Sour, there are many: but, in the Mountains, the Papal Interest is dominant, and has excluded them.

The Melchite Priests of Deir el Kamr are furnished from a very large Convent not far distant, called, Deir el Mhâlles; where is a Bishop, who has visited Italy. The College for Syriac or Carshun is at Ain el Warka.

There are two Melchite and two Maronite Churches in Deir el Kamr.

The origin of the title Deir el Kamr was related to me thus. There was once a Convent here, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. To her the words in Canticles vi. 10-fair as the moon-are often applied; and her picture may frequently be seen painted as a countenance on a full moon. This Convent, having such a picture, obtained the name of Deir el Kamr, or " Convent of the Moon;" an abbreviation of "Convent of our Lady, fair as the Moon." Since that period, the town has gradually been built here, and bears the same name.

May not these things remind us of the inventions of the Israelites of old, in this land? (Jer. xliv. 17) We will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the Queen of Heaven-a title given now to the Virgin Mary. In fact, Christianity in these countries, with all its

corruptions and imagery, seems not like a new and distinct religion, incompatible with the old Heathen Superstitions; but as something which easily accommodated itself to them, and soon became wrought up together; not a new plant, sprung up from wholly a right seed. This is not the Christianity of Christ and His Apostles.

Sunday, Oct. 12, 1823-I have in view two of the houses where, last Sunday, marriages took place. The court-yards, and the tops of the houses, are again crowded with guests. The expression, That preach ye upon the house-tops-appears nothing unnatural to those who daily see these houses. They are low and flat, and flat-roofed; and would give an opportunity to speak to many on the house, and many in the court-yard below. The continuance of the feasting illustrates Judges xiv. 12.

Monday, Oct. 13 This evening I had some conversation with Asaph, the servant, about prayer. He asked me why I went to bed so early. I said, 1 did not go to sleep: but I wished to have some time to read, meditate, and pray. He asked me why I did not pray in the sitting-room below. There happened to be a dispute at that very moment going on. I answered, "Many of you repeat your prayers in company: I can see your lips going; but the heart needs quiet and silence. Our Saviour said, Thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet; and, when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret. (Matt. vi. 6.) Asaph speaks a very vulgar Arabic, and so quick that I can with difficulty understand him. My hope is, that, when I speak about Religion to these people, though I