man; and I could hardly wonder that the hoar-frost of care was prematurely settling on his locks. It was quite evident, that the patriarch's anxiety extended not less to the temporal than the spiritual wants of his flock."

During the five weeks which Dr. Grant spent under the hospitable roof of the patriarch, he had the opportunity of seeing Nestorians of the greatest intelligence and influence from all parts of their mountain abodes, and to elicit from them much information which he could not have obtained in any other way.

"Their form of church government,” says Dr. Grant, "is essentially episcopal, but with a single exception in the Jelu tribe, there is not a bishop among the Independent. Nestorians, where their religious forms have been preserved the most exempt from foreign influence. It is a singular fact, to which my attention was first called by the testimony of Dr. Buchanan, that there is not a word in the Syriac language, expressive of the office of a bishop. The Nestorians, in common with the other Syrians, have borrowed the Greek term episkopos. This is the more remarkable, considering the fact, that the Syriac language was extensively used in Palestine, in the days of our Saviour, and was spoken by our Lord himself; and considering also, the very early date of the Syriac version, of the scriptures; as early as the beginning of the second century. In every case where the term bishop occurs, in our version, in theirs it is rendered presbyter, or priest. I make these statements with the single remark, that, while this form of church government may be the best for the Nestorians, in their present circumstances, there is enough in the facts I have mentioned, to caution us about too hasty an inference concerning the apostolic origin of episcopacy. on the ground that it exists in a church which was founded by the apostles."

The author has fallen into a small mistake respecting the language spoken by our Saviour. It was not the pure Syriac, but the Syro-Chaldaic; and though the old Syriac translation was made very early, there is no proof of its existence as early as the beginning of the second century.

Dr. Grant having finished his visit to the patriarch, made ready to leave the country; but instead of retracing his steps, and returning along the route which he pursued in going thither, he determined to pursue a direct course to Ooroomiah, the seat of the Nestorian mission. This resolution rendered it necessary for him to visit the Koordish chief, who had put to death the unfortunate traveller Schultz. His object in this visit was, not only to secure a safe passage through the territory of this ferocious man, but he considered that if he could conciliate his favour and confidence, it might be very important to the operations of the mission among the Nestorians, and might perhaps open a communication free from danger, between Ooroomiah and the Independent Nestorians. In anticipation of such a visit,

he had procured letters from the Turkish and Persian authorities. The patriarch also kindly offered to send one of his brothers, to introduce him in person to the Koordish chief. And he took special care to avoid every thing which would have a tendency to arouse the cupidity and jealousy of these semi-barbarous people, to which Schultz owed his death.

The parting of Dr. Grant with the patriarch, was in the truly oriental style. The patriarch presented him with a pair of scarlet shalwars, the wide trousers of the country, trimmed with silk; and also, one of the ancient manuscripts of his library. It was the New Testament written on parchment, seven hundred and forty years ago, in the old Estrangelo character. His favourite sister Helena furnished the traveller with a store of provisions, sufficient for a week, and a pair of warm mittens made by her own hands, from the soft goat's hair of the country. And finally, a thousand blessings were invoked upon his head, and ardent wishes were expressed that he might return with associates, and commence among the mountains, a similar work to that in which the missionaries were engaged upon the plain. Having received the last embrace and benediction of the friendly patriarch, Dr. Grant set off towards the residence of Nooroolah Bey, the famous chief of the independent Hakary Koords. This chief has lately removed his residence from his castle, at Jûlamerk, to Bash-Kalleh, nearly two days' journey from the residence of the patriarch. Upon his arrival, he found the chief on a sick-bed, and the doctor was desired to do something for him immediately. He had taken a violent cold, a few days before. Dr. Grant bled him and gave him some medicine; but he was impatient and wanted something more done; and at midnight a messenger came again to the doctor, saying that the chief was still very ill and wished to see him. The summons was promptly obeyed, and Dr. Grant entered the castle by a winding path. The sentinels were sounding the watchcry in the rough tones of their native Koordish. The outer court was entered through wide, iron-cased folding doors. A second iron door opened into a long dark alley, which conducted to the room where the chief was lying. It required some courage for a solitary stranger to put himself so entirely in the power of such a tyrant, and the fate of the unfortunate Schultz, said to have been put to death by his order, could not but occur to the thoughts of our traveller.

He found the chief very impatient, and earnest that something should be done for his immediate relief. The doctor told him that the medicine taken was producing a good effect; yet he needed more powerful means, which for a time would make him feel worse, instead of better; that he could administer palliatives, but in the end they would be injurious. At length he permitted the doctor to take his own course, and he administered an emetic; this operated well, and next morning he was much better.

The advantage which a man skilled in medicine possesses over others is striking, in almost every part of the east. Dr. Grant, on account of his medical profession and skill, was every where safe, and not only so, but held in admiration and reverence by the people. The following anecdote is related by our traveller:-"The chief had just heard of the case of a Koordish woman, from whose eyes I had removed a cataract, while I was at the patriarch's residence. With a spice of the characteristic passion of her sex, she was curious to know what had been the effect of the operation, and long before the prescribed time, she removed the bandage from her eyes. But so strange was the prospect that opened before her, that she was frightened, and immediately bound up her eyes, resolved thereafter to abide by my instructions. The story was so amusing to the chief, that he continued to divert himself by rehearsing it to his courtiers, with encomiums on my professional skill, too oriental to repeat. He is a man of a noble bearing, fine, open countenance, and appeared to be about thirty years of age He was very affable, and on my departure made me a present of a horse, as an expression of gratitude for the restoration of his health."

Our traveller now took his leave of the chief, and joining a small caravan, proceeded to Salmas, and thence to Ooroomiah, where he arrived on the 7th of December; having been absent more than eight months. His joy at meeting with his beloved friends of the mission may better be conceived than described. The very sound of his native tongue was delightful; and the habits of civilized society were rendered agreeable by his long acquaintance with the manners of a semibarbarous people; and to find a place of calm repose, after a pilgrimage so long and wearisome, could not but be peculiarly delightful. And his pleasure was greatly enhanced by the bright prospect of usefulness which now arose before him. His gratitude for preservation, through so many dangers, was heightened by the kindred sentiments of his

Christian friends at the station. "In all the perils," says he, "through which I had passed, the angel of the Lord had encamped round about me, for my deliverance, and it was sweet to unite in ascriptions of praise for the abounding mercies of our covenant-keeping God."

During the winter, two of the brothers of the patriarch, one of them his designated successor, paid a visit to Ooroomiah, and urged the missionaries to extend their labours through all parts of their country; and the patriarch himself wrote a cordial letter, renewing his invitation to Dr. Grant to repeat his visit in the spring. The following extract from his letter furnishes a pleasant example of the Oriental style, and of the earnest desire of the writer for the extension of the labours of the missionaries to his country. "With prayer and blessing! - My heart went with you, O doctor, in the day you went from me; but after I heard that you had arrived in safety, I greatly rejoiced. If you inquire of my affairs, and what I have to say, it is that word which we spoke. What I said to you before, is what I say now: you and I are one; and there is no change touching the things you heard from me. And again, may you be a blessing, and blessed with the blessings of God and the words of salvation. And may He give you joyful seasons and length of years, and remove and keep from you troubles and disquietudes."

Dr. Grant, to improve the favourable disposition of the patriarch, and to acquire further information of this interesting region, determined again to pass through the country of the Koords, on his return to his native land. Therefore, leaving Ooroomiah on the 7th of May, 1840, accompanied by his little son, Henry Martyn, then about four years of age; also, with the two bishops, Mar Yohannan and Mar Yosuph, coadjutors of the mission, he set off on his journey. At Salmas, they were joined by the two brothers of the patriarch already mentioned, and a number of Nestorians who were returning to their homes in the mountains, after spending the winter on the plains. Although the season was so far advanced, yet their way was rendered very difficult on account of the snow, which to a great depth lay in the valleys, and sometimes so obstructed the path as to render it impassable. The Koordish chief he did not see, as he was absent from his residence, but he was kindly received and entertained by the governor of the castle. Upon his arrival, Dr. G. found the bridge which led to the dwelling of the

patriarch, swept away; so that access to it was cut off; but he was so happy as to find the patriarch at the residence of Suleimah Bey, the then presiding Hakary chief, of Jûlamerk, with whom he was a guest. He received the doctor most cordially, and during a residence of ten days in the castle with the patriarch, all his former impressions of the importance of a mission to that country were renewed and strengthened. Indeed, the confidence and interest of the patriarch, instead of being diminished since his last visit, were manifestly increased: and he was joined in his entreaties. that I would either remain, or speedily return, by the chief with whom he was now residing. On this journey, Dr. Grant had laid aside the flowing oriental robes, which he had before worn, and had resumed his usual dress, which made him an object of great curiosity among the people. In the eyes of those who had seen him on his former visit, his appearance was much deteriorated; for he seemed now, in his American dress, to be a much smaller man. This appeared manifest to himself, when the chief asked permission to put on his dress, in which he exhibited himself in his harem, for the amusement of his ladies. After a time of agreeable intercourse with the patriarch and his people, Dr. Grant took his leave, and proceeded by the most direct rout through Erzeroom to Constantinople. Although it was now the month of June, he found the roads on the mountains impeded with large banks of snow. He passed by the town of Van or Wan, overlooked by an immense "rock of defence," which supports an ancient castle, and is embosomed in extensive, fruitful gardens. The most of the inhabitants are Armenians, who are said to number 40,000, in the district. The town is situated on an extensive lake of the same name, the water of which is so alkaline, that the people use it for making soap; while the lake Ooroomiah is so salt, and leaves so much of this article as a sediment on the shore, that it is used for culinary purposes without purification. "Both Van and Ooroomiah," says Dr. G., are several thousand feet above the level of tide water." Here our traveller remained ten days, and met the Koordish chief, whom he had attended in his sickness at his castle of Bash-Kalleh. He still cherished the friendly feelings towards the doctor which he had at first entertained, and in which all his people appeared to participate. His condition, however, was considerably changed; for he was now placed under the Turkish jurisdiction. The fierce chief had been induced to barter