desirous to see schools established for the education of his people; and said that great numbers would attend, if we would open a school in the village.

The people here say they can bring a thousand armed men into the field; and, estimating them as one to five of the whole population, this would give five thousand souls to this single village, the largest in the mountains. About half of the people spend the summer with their flocks upon the mountains, living under tabernacles of reeds and bushes, or in tents; while the remainder cultivate their gardens and follow other employments at home. In these villages, where the whole population remains through the winter, the people dwell in entire security; but they are sometimes brought into collision with their Koordish neighbours while pasturing their flocks in their immediate neighbourhood. Such was recently the case with the Nestorians of this village.

While they were pasturing their flocks on one bank of the Habor, a powerful tribe of Koords from the other side surprised them in the night, and drove away about 5000 of their sheep. The Nestorians then took possession of a pass that led to the winter-quarters of the Koords. The latter, finding themselves shut in where they could not long find subsistence, sent to the head chief of the Hakary tribes of Koords to ask his interference; and this chief sent a liberal present to the patriarch, hoping in this way to induce the Nestorians to relinquish their advantage. To prevent open hostilities and keep on good terms with the Hakary chief, the patriarch acceded to the proposition, but intimated

to his people here that they might obtain redress at another time. Consequently, the Nestorians suffered the Koords to return to their winter-quarters, taking their booty with them, and the Nestorians came back to their village. Thus stood the case when I visited them; but, while I was at the patriarch's, I learned that the Nestorians made an incursion into the villages of these Koords, and drove away about 4000 sheep, with mules and other property, enough to make up their loss with interest; and thus the matter ended; while the Koords were taught a lesson which will add to their tales of the invincible prowess of the mountain Nestorians.

Oct. 22.-Travelled about eight hours to Chumba, on the river Zâb; course east-north-east over themountains. The first range was passed without dismounting from our mules; but the second was very steep and lofty, and occasioned me a long and toilsome walk. Upon the summit we passed some of the summer pasture-grounds of the Nestorians, where those who attend the flocks live in a pure, invigorating atmosphere, and drink from the crystal streams perpetually cooled by the melting snows, of which large banks, the remains of avalanches, still occupied the deep ravines; while the surrounding heights were glistening in their fresh winter apparel. The inhabitants of each village have their separate pastures, and live in harmony with each other, seeming to regard their sojourn upon the mountain heights as the pleasantest portion of their life. But few of the people spend the summer in the lowest villages along the Zâb, on account of the heat, insects,

and fevers. Those who remain sleep on high scaffolds, to avoid the moschetoes and sandflies.

But, with all the romance of their pastoral scenes and primitive patriarchal habits, it may require no ordinary share of self-denying devotedness to the cause of Christ, and of love to this dear neglected flock, to enable the missionary to exchange the convenience of civilized life for a canopy of bushes or canvass, a seat upon the earth, and the thousand nameless privations of a nomadic life. Experience alone can determine how far such a mode of life will be required of the missionaries in these mountainous regions; but, while the permanent stations will be in the larger villages of the valleys, both health and usefulness will no doubt require their occasional removal with the Nestorians to their Zozan, or pastures upon the mountain heights, and beside the still waters in the higher valleys. It is such a life as the sweet psalmist of Israel often led; and why may it not now conduce, as then, to holy contemplation and converse with nature's God; and a spirit of fervid, exalted piety breathe through the bosoms of these dwellers upon the mountains?

At the foot of the first range I passed a furnace, where the Nestorians were making lead from the ore which they find in great abundance in their mines in different parts of the mountains. They also make their own powder, and never depend upon foreign resources for their ammunition. Sulphur is found in the mountains near Jûlamerk, and the people make their own nitre; and generally each man makes his own powder and balls, and also his hats and shoes. Their

wants are few, compared with those of a more artificial state of society, and these they supply by industry, perseverance, and frugality, with very little resort to foreign sources. On the whole, they are the most independent people I ever saw, in every respect.

My feet and limbs almost failed me before I reached the foot of the main range. We continued our journey on foot, along a narrow footpath, cut out of the perpendicular face of the overhanging rock; leaving my mule to follow on as fast as he could climb over the fragments, which it appeared impossible for him to pass. He finally got into the mountain torrent and wet my luggage (but fortunately without injury to my medicines, the most valuable part of my effects), while we passed over upon a long, bare pole, that answered the purpose of a bridge.

The whole scene was one of the most wild and romantic that imagination could picture; and soon it became clothed in awful sublimity by the lightning's vivid flash and the roaring thunder, whose almost deafening peals reverberated through the rocks and glens in fearful echoes.

We hastened on, and reached our destined village, in a beautiful ravine on the banks of the river Zâb, as the shades of evening began to gather around us. Scarcely had I got comfortably lodged in the spacious guest-chamber of the hospitable malek, when the clouds began to pour down torrents of rain, which continued through the night, and a part of the next day and night.

My host, as his title signifies, is the prince of a tribe, or

a division of the large tribe of the Tiyâry Nestorians; and by virtue of his office has an important influence among his people, though his office is rather advisory or paternal, than judicial or mandatory. The supreme civil, as well as ecclesiastical, authority over the independent tribes is vested in the patriarch, who holds nearly the same relation to his people in these respects that the high-priest did among the ancient Hebrews, and their government bears a striking analogy to that primitive theocracy. The assembly of elders still convenes, but without much formality; and the avenger of blood still executes justice in capital offences, while the offender may find all the advantages of the ancient cities of refuge in their venerable churches. Excision, not only from the privileges of the church, but even from society, is a common form of severe punishment inflicted by the patriarch; and his ban is greatly dreaded by the people. A man of high influence, living near the river on the more direct road from Lezân, is now resting under such a malediction, in consequence of which the people hold very little intercourse with him; for this reason I was desired to take the more circuitous route by way of Asheetha.

I observed that property was left much more exposed than is common in the East; a circumstance which evinces the truth of the report that the people confide in each other's general integrity, while they have no fear of thieves from other quarters. As I noticed the fact that the houses were built at a distance of some rods from each other, while most Eastern villages are very compact, the same explanation was