Protestants: "If those Hoshmat men are punished, very well; if they are not punished, we will burn your house over your head." Nothing but fear of punishment restrains them from a war of extermination against the Protestants. 'The few there who have become enlightened do not dare, as yet, to declare openly that they are Protestants; but still, they are known and regarded as such. Of these there are seven men who are heads of families. With such a beginning to encourage our helpers, and with the truth, though bitterly opposed, still gaining ground, we cannot but hope for a great and good work in Palu. While we were there, an interesting fact was told us concerning a teacher in a village near the large town of Geghi, twelve hours north-east from the city. He formerly went to Constantinople, where he became enlightened and it would seem truly converted. He speaks the truth boldly to his fellowvillagers, and also at Geghi. He goes with the rest to the old church, but observes none of their forms. After the usual services are over, he remains, with thirty others, and prays silently from twenty minutes to half an hour. They also hold meetings for reading the Bible and prayer. Beside these thirty men in the village, there are twenty more in the town who have been enlightened through the efforts of this teacher. Some of the Protestants of Palu have been to see him,-one of them indeed was first enlightened by him,-and they now correspond with each other concerning the way of salvation which they have found in the word of God. We are all of opinion that Palu should be occupied as soon as possible, as a missionary station. With one more missionary family sent to this region, we could occupy both Palu and Kharpoot. Thus occupied, Palu Thus occupied, Palu would be as important a missionary centre as is this place.

Extent of the Kharpoot Field.
As regards the whole of this great

field, I had no idea of its magnitude and importance before I came; and even now I feel unable to give an adequate idea of it. I used to regard the story about there being over three hundred villages on this plain and the mountains around, as an Oriental fiction; but there are nearly, if not quite that number. Within twenty miles of Kharpoot there are eighty villages, of which we have certain knowledge, most of them having been visited during the past four months. From the window by which I am writing, I see eighteen villages, on the plain below; while fourteen more, within the same distance, are hidden by the hills; and of this number we are able to supply only three with regular preaching. There is not one of these, or of the other villages mentioned, in which we could not commence missionary work immediately had we the men and means. Will not the churches send us at least the money; and pray the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest?

In the second letter, Mr. Allen first reports some encouraging facts respecting

Haboosi and the Helper there.

Our native helper Bedros has recently come from Haboosi, where he has been laboring during the winter, and has cheered our hearts by his account of the hopeful state of things in that place. Formerly much opposition to the truth existed there. One native helper was driven from the village; not long since a man was cruelly beaten for his adherence to the truth; and Bedros has often been insulted, his Bible wet with water, or snatched from him and thrown into the mud. He now reports that, of late, a remarkable change has come over the people. He meets with no opposition, but is kindly received and listened to with attention by all. From eight to fifteen come to the chapel every evening to talk about the way of salvation, while in the street he occasionally addresses from sixty to one hundred. He thinks

the hearts of the people. God grant it may be even so. We hail with joy this sign of promise, as a harbinger of good to the multitude of benighted villages in this vast field.

This brother has practiced self-denial, and manifests a spirit of entire consecration to his work. While in Haboosi, his only dwelling place during the long, 1 severe winter, has been a large, cold room; and he has made frequent visits to neighboring villages, through snow and mud, often wet to the knees, and his feet aching from cold. Yet he does not complain, but counts it all joy that he is permitted to labor in the cause of Christ. Some instances are mentioned in which he was insulted, abused, and driven away from villages, while he rendered only good for evil; and one case in which, at Ailaski, a Turkish village, twenty Turks listened attentively to the gospel as read by him, discussed with him, at great length, the first chapter of John, and invited him to go to their mosque, and read and preach at the door, which he thought it not best to do.

Since he came to the city, he found in the street the mouth-piece of a Turkish pipe, worth some thirty dollars-nearly as much as he receives for three months' labor; but instead of keeping it, he sent a crier about the market, and thus soon found the owner, and delivered to him his lost property. The Turk was amazed, for, said he, "I never expected to see it again. Had a Turk or Armenian found it, they would certainly have kept it, but this Protestant has returned it. This is indeed a wonderful thing."

A Petition from Geghi.

The incident next mentioned will be noticed as one of peculiar interest. The place from which the two men and the letter came, as it was called by them Kassabah, was at first supposed to be a town which no missionary or helper had ever visited; but Mr. Allen afterwards learned that Kassabah was but another name for Geghi, the place mentioned in his letter of March 19; and which was visited by Mr. Peabody many years ago. This week two men have come to us

in the direction of Erzroom. The place contains two hundred houses. Eighty of these, they say, are enlightened, and twelve are openly known as Protestant. The work began there twelve years ago, through the efforts of a son of one of our chief men. This young man seems to have been enlightened by his visits to Erzroom, and by the books he obtained and took home. For his adherence to the truth, he was persecuted by his brothers, and finally turned out of his father's house; but he has remained steadfast, and by his example and teaching has convinced a large number of the truth. He has before written to us, but probably the letters were lost. Now he sends another letter, with two men to bring it and urge their request, which is, that one of us will go to their place and form a church. They say they have no need of a helper, the young man referred to being able to preach and teach, but only wish a missionary to come for a short time, to see who among them are worthy, and receive them into the church of Christ. The following is a translation of the letter.

"Adorned with prudence, protector and inspector, excellent Reverend: Be it known to you, that I have sent two letters to you, but we have no answer. Of a long time the brethren of this place have waited your coming. At this time, one brother Haritune has come from your way. Again we beseech you that when you receive this epistle you will come to us without doubting, remain not long. If many labors hinder you not, come to our place without delaying your journey. We have hope in Christ that many men here will receive his gospel. If you come not, left without a shepherd, the sheep will all be scattered, the prey of wolves. As Christ has said: The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few.' The people here constantly desire that laborers may come to gather his harvest. At the time of your coming, bring the holy books for the brethren to read.

"March 10. Kassabah."

The brethren hope soon to be able to make a visit to that interesting place, which is 90 miles from Kharpoot.

YOZGAT.

of their founder. They are sometimes confounded with the Kuzzelbashes, but are altogether a different race and people. I have not yet learned that they celebrate any Christian rites, or that there is really a Christian element in their belief. Like the Janizaries, they are said to be of Christian origin, and like them were rapidly acquiring power. When the Janizaries fell, they were led to submission lest they should share the same fate. Their hatred of the Turk is as great as that of the Christian, and yet

MR. BALL still writes from Cesarea, not having been able as yet to remove to Yozgat, to which station he was appointed by the mission sometime since. Anticipating the absence of Mr. Farnsworth from Cesarea, to attend the annual meeting of the Southern Armenian mission, he thought it best to visit what is to be his field before this absence should occur; and accordingly started, about the middle of February, taking one man with him as an assistant, for a long journey in the winter; expecting some discomfort if not suffering. But though there was much snow the cold was not severe, except for a single day, during the seventeen days of the journey; and on their return, the snow was gone, and in most places the roads were dry.

The Field and the People.

Mr. Ball makes the following statements respecting the people in that section of the country.

My field is about 150 miles long, and of nearly the same width. In it are found Turks and Turkomans, Kuzzelbashes and Haji Bek Tashes, Koords, Greeks, Armenians, Catholics, Jews, and Gypsies. Yet with all this mingling of races there is no confusion of tongues. All know Turkish, and with the exception of a little Koordish and Armenian, it is the only language spoken.

With most of these races you are already familiar. The Gypsies have fixed habitations, but are an oppressed and despised race, some of them moslems and some Armenians. The Haji Bek Tashes are a moslem sect, of compara

I spent a night at one of their villages and had some conversation with a sheik. He repeated many traditions respecting the creation and the fall, but none of them came directly from the Bible. They are firm believers in the transmigration of souls. The sheik said, if the soul of man at death entered a beast it was hell, if it became human again, it was heaven. They do not believe in a resurrection or a future judgment. Man's accountability ends at death. The sheik declared his belief in a trinity,-not Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, but God, Christ, and Mohammed. God appeared to the Christian in Christ and to the moslem in Mohammed, but both are one. I have heard similar expressions from others, and judge that it is a common belief of the sect.

I was much impressed with the marked distinction of the races. Between Yozgat and Marsovan I stopped at a village the appearance of whose inhabitants puzzled me much. They were very tall and slender, having little or no resemblance to the Turks. They had no mosque, did not say their prayers, and had not their names been Turkish I should not have called them moslems. On inquiry I learned that they were originally Greeks. Formerly there was a large Greek town near, which was destroyed by the Turks. A few of the inhabitants escaping the sword, became nominally moslems, remained near their former home, and have retained for cen

turies their nationality, to a marked degree.

At Marsovan, now regarded as connected with the Yozgat station, Mr. Ball saw much to encourage him, though he was there but a few days. The helper "is doing a good work," and former contentions among the brethren have almost ceased. The congrega

The

tion on the Sabbath was at least 150. Lord's supper was administered to the little church of eight members, and there are eight or ten others who appeared to give evidence of piety. "There is marked improvement in the community respecting wine drinking." The school teacher, on account of a reduction of his wages, had recently gone back to the Armenians; but none had followed his example, his defection was scarcely felt, and a young man of the Protestant community had been engaged to take his place. A good native pastor is needed for that church.

At Yozgat, Mr. Ball spent twenty days. The brethren there, he says, "have increased in strength and grown in grace, though few additions have been made to their number."

Some persecution has been excited by the Armenians, and about half the boys have been taken from the school. A book stall is kept by the helper, and books sell well. Mr. Ball succeeded in renting a small house, but no place for a chapel has yet been procured. In going and returning he passed through twelve Armenian villages, of which he says: "What I saw greatly rejoiced my heart. The truth is spreading, and though there are many opposers, many are friendly, and freely admit that we are right.”

CESAREA.

LETTER FROM MR. FARNSWORTH, FEBRUARY 26, 1858.

THOUGH but a few weeks had elapsed since a report of the work in Cesarea was forwarded, events of so much interest had occurred, that Mr. Farnsworth says, we feel constrained to write again." The want of more means, that the work might be prosecuted with proper efficiency in that great field, had been made more and more evident. One interesting case, showing the need of enlarging rather than contracting operations," had just come to the knowledge of the brethren, and is first presented.

Promise at Nigda.

Some weeks ago our colporter started for a visit to Everek; but finding it dan

gerous to pursue his course through the deep snows and alone, he bore off farther from the mountain, to Karrahissan and Nigda. The latter is a large, beautiful town, but the people are mainly Greeks. Some years ago there seemed to be among them quite an interest in the truth, but, as in most cases among that race, the apparent promise proved fallacious. Now, however, there does appear to be a good work in progress. among the Armenians. Our colporter found four men whom he regarded as Protestants. They have many of our books, are reading them with much interest, and were delighted to see the colporter. One of them welcomed him to his house with joy. How these men will endure, when persecution arises because of the word, we do not know; but now they appear well, and by their books and conversation they are doing much for the spread of the truth in that place.

An Enlightened School-Teacher. The case of most interest is that of a school-teacher. He is a young man, who spent a year or two in the monastery near this place, and there learned, from enlightened monks, something of the errors of the Armenian church. For some years he had the charge of the only Armenian school in Nigda. The study of the Scriptures, and of various other books that have fallen into his hands, has enabled him to see the darkness and errors of the people. In his office as teacher, he has felt constrained to do what he could to enlighten them, and in pursuance of this object, he has taken the catechism, prepared by our missionaries, and in use among Protestants generally throughout this mission field, as the basis of much of his instruction.

But how could he do this without

incurring the displeasure of his employers? Every body who might see the book, would know at once that it was Protestant. To avoid all trouble, he took the catechism and wrote it out, word for word, questions and answers, that it

might appear as if all was the result of his own study. For some months he has been teaching this catechism to the Armenian children of Nigda. Our colporter questioned some of them, and found that they answered like the children who have been educated in our own day and Sabbath schools. May we not hope that this truth will not all be lost, but will yet spring up and bear fruit to the glory of God?

Fuller Instruction Needed.

But the work in Nidga cannot long go on in this way. The seed sown must be watched and watered. The brethren now there need more perfect instruction. Nigda should be made, at some early day, an out-station, and supplied with an efficient preacher; who should make it the centre of operations, while looking after other villages in the neighborhood.

But while this new field is opening, and we wish to occupy it, we are pained to see that there is a great decrease of funds, indicating that our Christian friends will not sustain us. Can it be, that we are not to be allowed to proceed? -that we are even to be compelled to contract our operations?—that we must dismiss men already at work, and say to perishing souls, We cannot spare the means to give you the bread of life?' I trust that the Lord, and the friends of his cause, will not suffer it so to be.

6

Protestantism. When, in 1845, priest Vertannes was banished to the same place for the same reason, (love to Christ,) Tavit was a monk in the monastery, and says he enjoyed his society and his prayers very much. If he has indeed now come to a knowledge of the truth, it may be regarded as in part, at least, the reward of the prayers and the example of those persecuted brethren, who were sent here that the Protestant heresy might not spread. How wonderfully does God make the wrath of man to

praise him! About two months ago Tavit wrote to one of our Protestant brethren, declaring his interest in the truth and requesting him to name some Protestant house where he could stop when he should come to the city. Said he: "Now is the acepted time, and I hope henceforth to obey the truth."

Though we had many fears as to the motives which had induced the man to

write this letter, the person to whom it was addressed wrote in reply, inviting the vartabed to his house. Accordingly he came on the 10th of February, and up to the present time has appeared well.

Influence of his Change.

What permanent effect will follow this accession of course we cannot yet tell. The present effect, however, is very decided, and the impulse given to the reformation in this place seems to be a hopeful one. This vartabed has been regarded as an upright and intelligent man, and if he has left the Armenian church the inference is, that there must be some good reason. Some have said to him: "Wherever you are, there are we," though they know nothing of the truth. People are flocking into our chapel as never before. The second Sabbath in February was a noted feastday of the Armenian church, (carnival,) and we expected but a small audience; but considerably more than two hundred were present, and at all our meetings from that time to the present, the attend