In consequence of the prophecy of a Santon, (holy man,) that the city of Rhodes is to be taken by the christians on a Friday, no christian is permitted to have a house within the walls. This is allowed to Turks and Jews only. The Greeks have shops in the town; but, at sun-set, they are obliged to pass the gates, and go to their houses in the suburbs, where they and the Franks reside. On Fridays, however, during prayers in the Mosque, both Greeks and Franks are compelled to leave the town, and the gates are shut. The number of Jews here is about 1000: but here, as in Canea, I can find no purchaser of the Hebrew Testament. I shall leave a few copies of it with the Consul; and a number of Testaments for the ships that touch here. I left Constantinople with the intention of proceeding from Rhodes to Sataliah, in Caramania, and thence to Cyprus; but my progress has been much impeded by unavoidable delays: the consideration, therefore, that the Passover is fast approaching, and that before I arrive at Jerusalem, I have the whole of Syria to traverse, has brought me to the resolution of renouncing Caramania for the present. I shall proceed, therefore, direct to Larnica, in Cyprus; and probably in the same vessel that brought me here from Canea. I heard, yesterday, that the Archbishop of Sataliah is gone to Constantinople; and without his sanction I could do little there. Signor Masse has resided six years in Safafiah he tells me that the Greeks there speak nothing but Turkish, which they write in the Greek character; the Testament, therefore, now in progress at Constantinople, will be the very thing for them. I shall write again from Cyprus. We shall sail as soon as the wind permits. I wish you would request the Bible Society to send out, as soon as possible, a copious supply of Greek Testaments, in both forms, to Mr. Williamson, that he may be ready to answer the demands from the islands Let them send him also as many copies of the scriptures, in Arabic, and Syriac, and Turkish, as they cau spare. I shall endeavour to establish depots in Syria, Mesopotamia, and other quarters. Would it not be advisable, if circumstances permit, to visit the patriarch of all the Armenians at Echmiazin, and consult with him? It has struck me, that, through the channel of the Bombay Bible Society and Mr. Rich, a ready and safe conveyance of the Scriptures might be carried on to the churches of Mesopotamia, by way of the Tigris and Euphrates. On this subject, however, I shall seek information at Aleppo. By operating through Trebisond, from Constantinople, on the north, and through Bagdad, from Bombay on the south, the, Vol. 2-No. XII. 82 whole line of country from the Persian Gulph to the Black Sea might be readily put in possession of the word of God. Contrary winds detained me in Rhodes three weeks; and I did not arrive in Lar. nica till the 24th ult. After a few days stay in the house of our Consul here, Signor Vondiziano, I proceeded to Nicozia, to visit the Archbishop, to whom I had brought an introductory letter from his agent in Constantinople.---He received me in the kindest manner; and seemed highly gratified with the object of my visit to Cyprus. I showed him the two tracts on the Bible Society, printed in Corfu. He glanced through them hastily; and frequently exclaimed, as he torped over the leaves, "A noble work!" He afterwards handed the letter and tracts to the Greeks present. The operations of the Bible Society excited their astonishment. The Archbishop ordered an apartment to be provided for me in the palace, and I remained with him five days. During this time, I drew up Proposals for a Bible Society for Cyprus," and presented them to Cyprian. He summoned a council of the principal men about him, and they discussed the matter. Their unanimous opinion was, that in the present impoverished state of the island, a Bible Society, desirable as it might be, could not be organized. The Archbishop, however, will do all in his power to promote the sale and distribution of the Greek Testaments; of which I have left 250 with him, all of the last edition. The Archbishop asked for 400: I have, therefore, written to Smyrna for 150 more. As the majority of Greeks in this island are poor, the Archbishop advised me to reduce the price of the Testaments to five piasters. To this I agreed, though it is only halt price. The sum of 1250 piasters, therefore, will be transmitted, through our consul, to Mr. Williamson, at Smyrna, who will supply the depôt here, according to its wants. I hope that the Bible Society will keep Mr Williamson's depôt well filled, that he may be able to answer every demand upon him. The Archbishop has given me an introductory letter to the Patriarch of Antioch, who resides at Damascus, and another to the agents of the Patriarch at Jerusalem. The Archbishop of Cyprus is the polițical, as well as spiritual head of the Greeks in the island. It is his business to collect their tribute; and, at present, he finds this no easy task; the last year having been a year of scarcity. His multifarious occupations scarcely allow him a moment's repose during the day; and he spends the greater part of every morning with the Turkish Governour, transacting business. The Archbishop of Cyprus is not subject to any Patriarch; and he alone, of all the Ecclesiastical Dignitaries, is empowered to wear a purple robe, to carry a seeptre, and to sign his papers with red ink. The Archbishop, with the concurrence of the chief Greeks of the island, generally elects his successor; this election must, how ever, be afterwards confirmed by the Porte The three Bishops of the island are those of Larnica, Baffo, and Cerines. The Archbishop occasionally holds a Synod, when the Bishops attend. He also, now and then, visits the dioceses. The island contains about 40,000 Greeks, and 14,000 Turks, and has 40 Greek Monasteries, with about 300 Monks, and two Catholic Convents with six Fathers. The chief School in Cyprus is at Nicozia, and contains about thirty scholars. Nothing is taught but Hellenic and Music. There are about 500 Maronites in the island. They reside chiefly in the neigh bourhood of Nicozia and in Larnica; and have one Monastery, with three Monks. They have no schools here; but those who can afford to do so, send their childrea to Mount Lebanon for education. The Arabic which they speak in their families, as I was told by a Maronite, is very corrupt.. He said that it is much like the Maltese. There are no Jews in the island. ''I leave a considerable number of Bibles and Testaments, in various languages, with Signor Vondiziano, for the Franks resident at Larnica, who are very numerous, and for the ships which visit the port; with many Tracts, in Greek and other languages, which I did also in Candia and Rhodes. Having been disappointed in my plan of visiting Caramania, I have made many inquiries respecting the languages spoken along the southern shores of Asia Minor; and I find that the language universally spoken by the Greeks residing along the dine of coast from the Gulph of Macri to Tarsus, is the Turkish, which they write in the Greek character. As we have not yet the Book to offer them, my visit would have proved somewhat premature. "I landed in Beirout in the afternoon of Sunday the 13th fast. and found to my great joy, that the Archbishop of Jerusalem was there, having arrived the day preceding, from Europe, by way of Egypt, On Monday morning I went to visit him at the Capuckin Convent, and found him officiating at the altar. After service I introduced myself to him. We walked to and fro, for some time, in the area of the Convent, conversing about our friends in England, and on the object of my mission. Particular business calling him away, I promised to visit him the next morning in the house where he lodged. I went accordingly; but our conversation was so frequently interrupted by the entrance of visitors who came to welcome the Archbishop on his return, and his fatigue from his re cent journey was so evident, that I judged it best to defer any further conference with him, till I shall see him in his convent on Mount Lebanon, whither I shall probably proceed from Damascus. His printing press is not yet arrived. The Archbishop gives me but little hopes of success in selling the Scriptures in Syria. I expect to sail to-morrow for Beirout; and inust defer muy visit to Damascus and Aleppo, till after the Passover. I shall most probably proceed, direct from Bei- . rout, to the Convent of the Syrian Archbishop. 1 In order to be able to pass through Syria and Asia Minor with facility and safety, I have assumed the Oriental dress.. From Acre, under date of Feb. 23, 1820, Mr. Connor states his proceedsings at Beirout, Saide, Sour and Acre. Beirout. My fast letter informed you of my proceedings in Cyprus, and that I was on the eve of sailing for Syria. During my stay of two days and a half in Beirout, I had more than one interview with Monsignor Luigi Gandolfi, superintendent of the Catholic churches in the Levant. He is an aged and amiable man. He remembers Mr. Burckhardt well.' I shall revisit Beirout, the Archbishop's convent not being far distant. Our consul told me that the population of Beirout amounts to about ter thousand souls. Of these about three thousand are Turks, and the remainder christians of various denominations. I shall endeavour to establish a dept there on my return, Saide. On the 16th inst. I set out for Saide. and having passed along the foot of Lebanon, arrived there in the evening I found in the in where I lodged, Mr. Fuller, who travelled with Mr. Jowel: in Egypt. Saide contains, according to Mr. Bertrand, about 15,000 souls. Of these 2,000 are christians, chiedy Maronites, and 400 Jews, who have one Synagogue. As we have no consul in Saïde, and no Ecclesiastical Dignitary residiar there, I proposed to the French consul Acre. On the 21st I set out for Acre, our road lying along the beach. Night overtook us; and it was past eight o'clock when we arrived at the gates of the eity, which we found shut. We could find no lodging, and were obliged to spend the night in the open air. The next morning we entered, and were lodged in the Latin convent. to take on himself the sale and distri-Bertrand for them. He tells me that bution of the scriptures. He told me, in Sour there are 1200 Greek Cathohowever, that, as French consul, he lics, 100 Maronites, 100 Greek Schiswas prohibited from engaging in any matics, 2000 Montonalis, and about commerce. I returned to my lodging, 100 Turks. Relics of the ancient splen rather disheartened, little foreseeing dour of Tyre are every where to be the providential interference which seen. Numerous and beautiful colshortly after manifested itself. I had umns, stretched along the beach, or given an Arabic psalter to a Maronite, standing in fragments half buried in for a slight favour which he had grant- the sand that has been accumulating ed me. He sat down in the area of for ages, the broken a jueduct, and the the Khan, and began to read. A nuni- ruins which appear in its neighbourber of people gathered about him and hood, exist as an affecting monument Jooked at his book. Among the rest of the fragile and transitory nature of was the chief physician of the place, earthly grandeur. Mr. Bertrand, a native of Saide, but of French family, and very respectable connexions. The Arabic psalter attracted his notice. He came up to me, and inquired eagerly if I had more Arabic psalters, or any Arabie bibles; saying, at the same thine, that if I had thousands of them, I could easily dispose of them in Syria. I went to his house in the evening, and spent about three hours with him. He was aware of the existence of the Bible Society, and had seen Mr. Burekhardt. He made many excellent remarks on the good effects likely to be produced by the Bible Society; and said, that if he could do any thing, to promote its objects in Syria, he was most ready and willing to be so employed. I wrote on the spot a set of instructions for him. He undertakes, with the assistance of his brother, who is physician to the Prince of the Bruses, to sell and distribute the scriptures throughout the whole of Lebanon, Anti-Lebanon, Damascus, and the coast of Syria, from Beirout to Sour. Mr. Bertrand is well known in the country; and, as I have heard from many, has considerable influence, and is universally respected. He only waits for the books, to begin his work. Signor Vondiziano, of Larnica, will be his Referee. I trust that the Bible Society will speedily seud out to Signor Vondiziano a large supply. Mr. Bertrand will correspond with Mr Tarn, and will give him a full account of the sale and distribution of the scriptures. Sour. On the 18th I set out for Sour, the ancient Tyre; and arrived there in the evening. I lodged with the GreekCatholic Archbishop of Tyre. He will endeavour to supply his flock with bi-, bles, and will apply to his friend Mr. Our consul, Signor Malagamba, undertakes willingly to promote the circulation of the Arabic and Hebrew scriptures in Acre, Nazareth, Tiberias, Safed, &c. &c. Signor Vondiziano, of Larnica, will be bis Referee. In Acre, according to our consul, there are about 10,000 souls; of them, 3000 may be Turks, the remainder christians (chiefly Catholics) of various denominations. From the Convent of San Salvador, at Jerusalem, where Mr. Connor took up his abode, he gives, under date of March 21st and April 11th, the following particulars of his journey to the Holy City, and of his proceedings there:- Nazareth. My last letter detailed my operations between Cyprus and Nazareth. I arrived in this latter place on Friday the 25th of February, and remained there till the following Monday; having visited, in the interval, all the Holy places shown there, and the summit of mount Tabor, two hours and a half distant from Nazareth! The number of the inhabitants of Nazareth is about 3000. Of these about 500 are Turks, and the remainder are Schismatic Greeks, Latins, Greek Catholies, and Maronites. I have placed On Monday, the 28th of February, we set out for Napolose. After passing the fine plain of Esdraelon, we arrived at the village of Gennin, situated at its extremity. We passed the night there in a miserable hovel, with two christian Druses, who had come from their mountains to buy cotton; they observe Lent very strictly." The next morning we started with the dawn. The path led us, at first, through a narrow stony valley. We bad not proceeded far before we were met by an Arab, who cautioned us against advancing, as a company of robbers were lying in wait on the hill side, a little beyond us; we immediately turned, and took another road. We passed to-day through some fine country, and arrived about three in the afternoon at Napolose, the ancient Sychem, beautifully situated at the foot of lofty hills, embosomed in trees, and surrounded with gardens. We were not permitted to advance into the town, till we had seen the Governor, who, after a conversation of two or three minutes, dismissed us. We took up our lodging in the house of a Greek christian. In Napolose there are about 100 christians, all Greek Schismaties. They have one church and two priests. The Jews there amount to about fifteen individuals. Samaritans in Napolose. I immediately made inquiry about the Samaritans. My host stepped out and fetched their priest; he sat with me some time; his name is Shalmor ben Tabiah; he is a native of NapoJose, and is about forty years of age. There are about forty Samaritans in Napolose. They have but one syna. gogue in the town, where they have service every Saturday. Four times a year they go, in solemn procession, to the old synagogue on mount Gerizim; and, on these occasions, they go up before sun-rise, and read the law till noon. On one of these days they kil six or seven rams. The Samaritans have one school in Napokose, where their language is taught. The head of the sect resides in Paris. I accompanied the priest to his house, and sat a long time with him— There were several Jew's present: they seem to live on friendly terms with the Samaritans here. The priest showed me part of the first volume of the English Polyglott, mentioned by Maundrell; it consisted of about a dozen tattered leaves. He showed me also a manuscript Samaritan Pentateuch, with an Arabic Version at its side: this Version, however, is not used in their Synagogue. He afterward took me to see the Synagogue, making me first take off my shoes; it is a small gloomy building. I observed a number of cop ies of the Samaritan Pentateuch, carefully enveloped in linen, and laid on a shelf in the Synagogue. Expressing a wish to see the ancient manuscript, said by the Samaritans to be 3500 years old, the priest paused and hesitated for some time. Having laid aside his upper garments, he at length entered the Sanctuary, and produced the venerated Manuscript. It is well written on vellum, in the Samaritan character, and is preserved in a tin roller: it bears the marks of age, and is rather tattered. The Priest would not permit me, nor any one present, to touch it. He was very inquisitive about the Samaritans, who he had heard were in England. As it is probable that 1 sbail revisit Napolose, on my way from Jerusalem to Damascus, I hope to have the opportunity of collecting more information from him. After visiting Jaffa, and Rama, Mr. Connor proceeded to Jerusalem, and lodged in the Latin Convent of Sas Salvador. Of that city whose very name is "Peace," and whose peaceful state should be the figure of the church's unity on earth and of its rest in heaven (see Psalm exxii)→of that eity the christian traveller is compelled to say- If there be a spot in the world, where the spirit of rehgious contention burns with greater fury than in another, that spot is Jerusalem! The occupation of the Holy Places is the great object of contention. These are in the hands of the Turks by whom the right of occupation is sold to the highest bidder., The Greeks and Armenians are friendly to the diffusion, of the scriptures; nor do the Latins seem hostile to the circulation of their authorised versions. When, therefore, the real value of the Holy Places comes to be understood by the enatending parties, through the increase of divine light in these regions, they may be led to worship in them in peace and harmony, and to unite together for the purpose of making known to all men the word of salvation. Under existing circumstances, therefore, Mr. Conner says The best plan will be, that Procopius should be the general depositary of the scriptures here, in Romaic, Arabic, Russian, Bulgarian, Wallachian, Armenian, and Turkish in Greek and ArmeBian characters for the Christians of Antaolia. He undertakes to see them offered for sale; and is also willing to distribute, among the pilgrims and others, Greek and Arabic Religious and Bible Society Tracts." Language and Schools of the Patri archale af Jerusalem. The language universally spoken, throughout the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, is the Arabic. Schools are rare ; consequently, reading is not a very common attainment. The Metropolitans, Archbishops and Bishops, are all native Greeks, and reside in Jerusalem. Very few of them know any thing of Arabic, but maintain agents, (natives of the country) at their diocess, which they occasionally visit. The Patriarch of Jerusalem always resides in Constantinople. Armenian Patriarch at Jerusalem. A few days after my arrival, I visited the Armenian patriarch; and conversed with him on the Bible Society, and on the object of my visit to Jerusalem. ·Both pleased him ; and he immediately requested me to send him sixty-six of the Armenian Testaments which I * had brought with me. He gave me four piastres a-piece for them. He took them he said to present to his friends. He would give me no enned couragement, however, to sell them openly. Before he will permit the public sale of them, he must have au thoritative proof that the edition is sanctioned at Constantinople! This I will procure for him, when I return z, Kf, "i} 9 ! thither, しい [As the statements of Mt. Conner contain much that is interesting and useful, we shall continue the publication of them in the January number.} BAPTIST MISSION IN PERMAH... The Journal of Mr. Judson, who has travelled from Rangoon to Ava, contains notices of a country and a court of which little is known, We publish those parts of the Journal which are particularly interesting, "Dec. 21st, 1819.-After having made arrangements for our wives' residence in town, during our absence, brother Colman and myself embarked. Our boat is six feet wide in the middle, and forty feet long. A temporary deck of bamboos is laid throughout, and on the hinder part of the boat, the sides are raised with thin boards, and a covering of thatch, and mats tied on, so as to form two low rooms, in which we can just sit, and lie down. Our company consists of sixteen, beside ourselves,ten rowmen-asteersman-a headman, whose name is inserted in our passport, and who, therefore derives a little authority from government-a steward or cook for the company, which place is filled by our trusty Moung Nau-our own cook-a Hindoo washerman-and an Englishman, who having been unfortunate all his life, wishes to try the service of his Burman majesty; and this last personage may be called our gunner, he having charge of several guns and blunderhusses, which are indispensable on account of the robbers that infest the river. As a present to the emperor, they selected the BIBLE, in six volumes, covered with gold leaf, in Burman style, and each volume enclosed in a rich wrapper. For presents to other members of government, we have taken several pieces of fine cloth, and other articles, "Thus manned and furnished, we pushed off from the shores of Rangoon. The teacher Moung Shwa Goong had not been to see us for several days, ashamed probably of having declined accompanying us; but just as we were pushing off we saw his tall form stand |