but were put off again and again, till we could secure justice in the case of last year. At last they sent two men, who were not to return till they had succeeded. We referred them to the Home Missionary Society of the church, and at last they agreed to send a man if ten men would petition the Pasha for protection as Protestants. They brought a petition with ten signatures for the Pasha; and there were five more Nicodemuses, who did not want their names to go to the Pasha. He issued the order and a man was sent.

"Before he arrived, on a Sunday, the people were ordered to work on the road, but the Protestants claimed exemption, on the ground that it was contrary to their religion, and the Governor allowed the claim, much to the amazement of the Armenians. The preacher was kindly received, and no opposition was manifested by Armenians. But the Government soon began to lay extra burdens on the new Protestants, and to manifest decided hostility. They soon found the pretext they sought. A priest wrote four notes to our preacher to draw him out, and at last, in answer to repeated inquiries, as to whether they (the Armenians) were Christians, Jews, or heathen, was answered — ' You are Christians, but have some customs of heathens.' This was immediately reported to the Governor. He called the preacher, but dismissed him after a slight examination, and then wrote to the Pasha that this man was a disturber of the peace. The Pasha demanded his recall, and the community, by our advice, to give the Government no handle against them, immediately sent another man and recalled the first. The Government seem to have guarantied the Armenians undisturbed possession of Zeitoon for their church, but they will doubtless find the Word and Spirit of God more powerful than all their machinations.

Fundajuk. "There are manifest signs of the Spirit's working in our region. The students, in a recent vacation, went, some of them, to the mountains, and returned delighted with their reception in Fundajuk, where we have had helpers in past years, and have been much persecuted.

VOL. LXIV.

They found the principal men of the village, who were once bitter foes, ready to welcome them; coming around them and insisting on hearing the Scriptures, and desiring prayer and singing. This change has taken place during the past few months, and shows other than man's working. Let the churches only pray, offering real prayer, and giving for the work, and they will see fruit of their labors."

Nestorian Mission — Persia.

LETTER FROM MR. LABAREE, September 17, 1867.

The Mountain Fields. Mr. Labaree writes, at considerable length, with reference to various matters, mostly in connection with the mountain districts. His letter must be greatly abridged, but many of its statements should find a place in the Herald. He had recently returned from a tour in Salmas, (northerly from Oroomiah,) and was "sorry that he could not report more of encouragement there;" though he did not think the work "absolutely stationary." In the mountain regions westerly from Oroomiah, events of considerable importance - opposition, persecution, oppression, - are noticed.

The Patriarch-Attempt to expel Mission Helpers. "Several weeks since Mr. Shedd wrote you a report of the tour made by him and myself to Amadia [in Turkey, - west-south-west from Oroomiah]; of the intercourse we had with our helpers; of the plans formed for the increased efficiency of the gospel work; of some hopeful accessions to the evangelical party; and of the general prospects of the evangelical cause in the mountains. Scarcely had we reached home before Mar Shimon commenced a course of more active opposition than he has attempted before in a long while. He issued an order for the expulsion of all our helpers from Tkhoma, directing the use of force if necessary, and threatening not to leave a single man of ours in all the mountains. It happens that all the helpers in Tkhoma and the adjacent regions are natives of

that district, with large family connections, who have hitherto prevented their being molested, even though not sympathizing with their evangelical principles and practices. Hence it has been difficult to expel them, while the sufferance of such preachers in that province has always been an excuse for their tolerance in other parts of the mountains. We do not understand all the causes which operated on the Patriarch's mind, and induced him to take the decided course respecting which he had hitherto hesitated.

Intervention of the British Consul. "The people of the district seemed earnestly determined to execute the order, and I doubt not would have done so but for the interposition of Providence. Events of a peculiar nature, occurring just at that time, diverted the attention of the principal enemies, and so delayed the threatened evil. In the meanwhile, Mr. Rassam, the British Vice-Consul at Mosul, hearing of Mar Shimon's proceedings, addressed him a very strong letter of remonstrance, as suring him that the American missionaries are the truest and most efficient friends of the Nestorian people, and urging him to invite their preachers back with the same publicity with which he had ordered their expulsion.

"Before this letter reached the Patriarch he had visited Jeloo and Bass, and declared very violently against all who had any connection with us. The Nestorians of the mountains are heavily indebted to Mr. Rassam for his frequent active interference in their behalf, so that his word is profoundly respected by both Patriarch and people. This letter, therefore, had the effect to restrain them from carrying out their persecuting project; indeed they are quite abashed by receiving such an emphatic rebuke from such a quarter.

Other Movements of the Patriarch baffled. "In addition to this rebuff, another was received, soon after, quite as mortifying. The Patriarch had written to the British Consul at Erzroom, offering to make over his people to the English Church if the English Government would extend to them its protection from Turks

and Koords. The reply of Consul Taylor was a decided rejection of the proposition, couched in language not at all flattering to the Patriarch.

"As if abandoned to exhibit his folly and weakness, while yet waiting for the reply of the English Consul, he sent a similar communication to the Russian Consul at Erzroom, courting Russian aid. To this also he received an indecisive answer. Thus censured and baffled he has been quiet since, and has privately signified his willingness that our preachers should remain at their places without molestation."

Annoyances which the Patriarch has met also in his own fold are noticed, and Mr. Labaree adds:

"All these things, it would seem, must weaken the hold of Mar Shimon upon his people, and hasten the day of disintegration and of subsequent reconstruction. The young man himself is not wanting in liberal sympathies, and has a friendly disposition towards our preachers; but his father and uncle control him, and more evil counselors he could not have.

"Mr.

The Reforming Priest in Tiary. Shedd wrote you of an interesting priest from Tiary, who united with us at our meetings in Amadia. After his return home, the people of his large parish assembled at his house for a conference. They assured him of their willingness that he should teach and guide them whatever way he chose; he might exclude whom he pleased from the communion; they would furnish him all the scholars he wished, and would pay him all he needed for his support; but they could never tolerate his receiving wages from the American missionaries. As far as we can learn he is a true and faithful servant of our Lord, and is laboring in a quiet way for the dissemination of a pure gospel. He is secretly gathering around him a party of men of like views with himself. We shall watch the progress of this man, and the results of his enlightened teachings, with tender interest.

Meeting of Helpers in Gawar. "Mr.

Cean has just returned from the general meeting of all the mountain helpers, held in Gawar. He reports the occasion as one of much interest and profit. The helpers, notwithstanding the sombre aspect of affairs during the summer, took a cheerful view of the future, and went back to their work with increased courage and trust. It is his impression, from his intercourse with the best informed of our helpers, that Mar Shimon is fast losing the confidence and respect of his people, and that, in his reckless appeals for foreign aid, he is making a desperate effort to repair his declining fortune. He has, however, still a strong pillar of support in the profitable offices, civil and ecclesiastical, which are under his control."

Moslem Violence. Mr. Labaree sends also some account of violent proceedings against the Nestorians by a Koordish chief, sending the copy of a letter received by the missionaries from a Nestorian bishop, appealing for their interposition. This letter must be omitted, and a few passages from our brother's letter will perhaps sufficiently present the case.

"Our Christian sympathies have been very much excited, the past two months, by reports of Moslem outrage in a neighboring province, which call to mind the historic days of Islam's power and unawed fanaticism.

"Two days distant from us, to the southwest, is the Turkish province of Nochea, a mountainous region, containing a mixed population of Koords and Nestorians. It is the residence of a noted Koordish sheik, who has no superior for reputed sanctity and authority among the Koords, except the sheik of Bagdad. It is also the seat of a metropolitan bishop of the Nestorians, within whose diocese is a large and venerable church [at Katroona], whose history is supposed to date back to the time of Constantine the Great.

"This village of Katroona has recently been lawlessly seized by the sheik, and the Nestorians dispersed. Some of them visited Erzroom to petition the Pasha in

regard to their property. Through the aid of the English Consul they obtained papers restoring them to their rights, but no notice has been taken of them by the authorities this side of Erzroom.

"Thus remote from any centre of government, the weak arm of Turkish power is little felt and little feared by the lawless Koords in the province, and the sheik is well-nigh independent and irresponsible. The church he has begun to destroy is a large one, built of hewn stone and arched. Half of it he has demolished, and with the materials is building a fort. The remainder he intends to convert into a mosque. He has opened the graves under the flagging stones of the church, and the vaults in the walls, where lay the bones of a long line of bishops and priests. In vain the bishop has remonstrated against this sacreligious proceeding; the sheik but ridiculed his distress. In vain Mar Shimon has written begging him not to commit such an outrage; the letter was torn up with indignity before the church. In vain, too, has his own mother plead against the desecration, foreboding ill from such an unprecedented act as the razing of a Christian church. His reply to her as to others was, 'The son of Mary has reigned long enough by the side of Mohammed.'

"A more serious affair, the testimony for which seems to be abundant, though not so accurate as in the case of the church, is the intention of the sheik to instigate a massacre of the Christians, or to reduce them to serfdom. We have the report that two men have already been killed, on the supposition that they were the men who carried the complaint to Erzroom about the village of Katroona.

"These facts have been forwarded to Mr. Taylor, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Erzroom, and through his active efforts strong authority has been sent, and a Christian agent from Van has been ordered to investigate the case. It remains to be seen what the issue will be. Our hope is that the fanatical designs of the sheik will soon be checked."

a

A Brahmin Convert-Opposition. Mr. Harding announces that a Brahmin native of Shalapoor, but whose work for some years had been at a distance from that place, so that he had been seen only occasionally by the missionary-had just been admitted to the church. A younger brother had decided to embrace Christianity with him; with him, on the way to Sholapoor, had broken caste; and arriving on Saturday (August 10), with him attended Christian services on the Sabbath. Of the excitement, the opposition of other relatives, &c., which followed, Mr. Harding writes:

66

They have an older brother living in the city, and early Monday morning they wrote to him, stating that they had broken caste and thrown away their sacred thread, and had determined to become Christians. This announcement kindled a fire that burned furiously for several hours. Their older brother, with other influential Brahmins, came to our house in the town, where the young men were staying, and by every possible means endeavored to persuade them to leave. This continued for a long time, until the Christians, fearing that violence might be used, sent for me. Before I arrived, a large and disorderly mob had assembled about the house, so that our people were obliged to close the doors and windows. I said a few words to the crowd outside, and then went in and immediately wrote to the Collector, asking his protection for the young men.

Violence. "Unfortunately the Collector was absent from Sholapoor, and there was considerable delay before my letter reached the second magistrate.

"We waited in painful anxiety for more than half an hour, during which time the mob outside had become very disorderly. At last, in order to forestall any assistance from the magistrate, the doors were broken open, and the two men were seized

and carried away. Not long before this occurred, three native Christians, who were outside, were most cruelly assaulted by Brahmins and others. They all received severe wounds upon the head, and it is a wonder that some of them were not killed.

Interference of Magistrates. "As soon

as these occurrences came to the knowledge of the magistrate, he issued warrants for the arrest of the leaders in the mob; and he also gave stringent orders to the police to find the two men who had been carried away. As the native officials, being Brahmins, were quite in sympathy with the rioters, it seemed doubtful whether these orders would be obeyed; but about dark the older of the two, Ramchandra, was found and set at liberty. He came at once to the mission house, and we shall not soon forget the scene that followed.

Patient Suffering. "The Christians, who had been waiting in anxious suspense, came to rejoice with him. The three who had been so cruelly beaten were present, weakened and faint from loss of blood, and their clothes crimsoned from head to foot. Yet there were no complaints. One suggested that these sufferings were very light compared with those which Christ endured for us. Another remarked, 'Yes, and we are ready to endure more, even to give up our lives for his sake if need be;' and then, as by instinct, we all knelt down to thank God for our preservation, and that we were counted worthy to suffer for his name's sake. And we did not forget to pray for those who hated us because they hated Christ; for we felt that we had only heard that day the echo of other voices, coming from another mob, crying, 'Away with him. Crucify him, crucify him.'

"The younger brother was not found till the next day, and meanwhile he had been so influenced by his friends and by the native officials, that he expressed the wish to return to his Hindu brother. 1 hope we may yet see him again, but hitherto we have had no communication with him.

Rioters Punished. “As the leaders in this riot were prominent men in Government service, it was deemed important to make an example of some of them, and three Brahmins were tried and convicted, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labor. The effect of this has been all that we could reasonably expect. We now have perfect security, and in our preaching in the town we receive less annoyance than ever before. The fact that a man of the highest caste, and of good standing in the community, should give up his caste and his religion and become a Christian, has naturally excited much inquiry and discussion among the people. The violent opposition also has had the same tendency, and we feel that these apparent calamities have evidently been overruled for our good.

"The conduct of Ramchandra has been very satisfactory. No one doubts his sincerity, and I trust he will be a valuable member of this church. He was baptized last Sabbath. One or two others seem likely to join us very soon."

North China Mission.

KALGAN.

LETTER FROM MR. GULICK, January, 1867.

The Mongols. A very interesting letter from Mrs. Gulick, of the North China mission, respecting a visit to Mongolia, was published in the Herald for May, 1866. The following extracts from a letter from Mr. Gulick, whose station, it will be remembered, is at Kalgan, on the confines of that land, present interesting facts respecting the Mongol people, among whom he desires to see missionary effort commenced at once.

"In communications sent to the Missionary House from this station and from Peking, mention has from time to time been made of the Mongols, who visit these cities in large numbers. They are far behind the Chinese in civilization; but in the eastern parts of Mongolia, where many of them have adopted the agricultural habits of the Chinese, they appear

to be quite as well off as their more shrewd and money-loving neighbors. In these agricultural districts, which are limited, they live in houses like those of the Chinese, with mud walls and paper windows; but the vast territory which belongs to them is for the most part occupied by a pastoral people, who live in small felt houses or wigwams.

They form a connecting link between the Arabs of Western and the Chinese of Eastern Asia. They make long journeys for the purpose of bartering the products of their herds. Peking is one of their favorite resorts, on account of its furnishing a large market for the frozen game and mutton which they bring in the winter. Their long caravans are now daily passing through this place on their way thither. It is not uncommon to see women and children accompanying the men on these long expeditions, the whole party being mounted on horses and camels. Though frequently making journeys for purposes of trade, they are not nomads; for their flocks and their homes remain from year to year in the same place. Several of the missionaries in Peking have become much interested in them and are studying their language.

Missionary Effort called for. "The time seems to have arrived when systematic efforts ought to be made for this people. Many years ago the London Missionary Society had a mission amongst a tribe of Mongols in Siberia; but the policy of the Russian Government at that time, which led it to claim all the converts as belonging to the Greek Church, resulted in the closing of the mission. The whole Bible and a number of tracts have. however, been translated and printed, and now that the country is accessible from the southern border, the London Missionary Society is ready to enter the field again.

"If the Board is also ready to make an effort to reach the Mongols, this seems to be the right place in which to begin. There is already a station here, where we have frequent intercourse with them. We cannot avoid meeting them and working more or less for them. They come to us for medicines; they come for books; they