made to translate it into Arabic; in consequence of which, as the Rabbi told us, the Hebrew is very generally understood here. As the Arabic, though universally understood and spoken, is very rarely read by Jews here, the Books and Tracts sent hither must, of course, be in Hebrew. On inquiring what kind of Alphabet they used, we were told, as we expected, that they had none but written ones: we requested the Teacher to shew us one, telling him how much preferable it would be to have them printed: when, on seeing them, we told him that we would try to get some printed on the same plan, he seemed much pleased with the idea.

Mr. Nicolayson adds, subsequent ly

We had taken with us an Alphabet, drawn up after their own plan, with a few improvements; with a specimen of a Spelling-book which I had planned for them: these we shewed to the Schoolmaster, who seemed much pleased with them. Should the Schoolmasters of Syria, also, approve of them, it may, perhaps, be worth while to get them printed.

Sermon by a Jewish Rabbi, We went to the great Synagogue; and found it so crowded, that with great difficulty seats were made for us. They were reciting or chanting the Psalms of David with all their might. When they had gone through them, Rabbi Benjamin, who is esteemed a prodigy of learning, delivered a short Address to the crowded assembly. It was in Arabic; but so mixed up with Hebrew, that no Arab could have understood it. The Psalms were recited to-day, by way of Public Prayer for rain, which is greatly wanted; and the scarcity of which is laid to the charge of the Jews by the Moors, who make such pretences a handle for heavy taxations.

To this the Rabbi alluded in his Sermon; in which he maintained, that, on the contrary, the world is preserved in existence only on account of Israel, and that all public blessings are conferred for their sakes. He, however, owned, that such slanders and oppressions come upon them on account of their national sins; and, therefore, declaimed against swearing, and lying, and dishonesty in dealing: and concluded with a general exhortation to repentance and amendment; illustrating and enforcing the whole by a few quotations from the Scriptures, and a great many sayings and anecdotes from the Talmud.

Difficulties not to prevent the Establishment of a Mission.

I should not feel free from considerable embarrassment in presenting such a Journal as this, which in fact is an account of multiplied difficulties to be surmounted, without a single instance of any one actually having been surmounted, did not the views and principles stated in your Letter, and which I believe to be those of the Committee generally, encourage the hope, that even this mere discovery of the difficulties to be encountered, in the Society's extending its efforts to those Jews who inhabit the Northern Coast of Africa, will not only NOT discourage the Committee from such an attempt by establishing a Mission among them, but may even, in some measure, be made subservient to that end, by the scanty information which it may afford to him who may engage in such a Mission.

TUNIS.

Three Classes of Jews.

There is a class of Jews here, who, though now natives of this place, are called Livornese Jews; being descended, in part, from Jews from Leghorn, but chiefly from those who, at the banishment of the Jews from Spain, in 1492, took refuge here. These, though in blind zeal but little inferior to those who are called Tunisian Jews, are still hated and despised by them, and hence there is a constant animosity and jealousy between the two parties. The Italian-born Jews, who form a third class of that Nation here, are, generally speaking, deistical in principle, and consequently very indifferent to all Religious Worship: yet, to lessen, in some degree, the hatred of the other parties against them, they keep up the externals of Public Worship; and, to avoid the jealousy of the others, have a Synagogue and a Rabbi of their own: the European Protection which they enjoy is, however, their best safeguard from the fanatical fury of their brethren. The collective number of these three classes of Jews in Tunis is generally computed at 60,000.

State of the Jews.

Though the Jews are absolutely necessary for the Moors here, who never transact any mercantile business of importance without their intervention, still they are more despised and degraded in this place than even in Tripoli, and equally liable to exactions. It is, therefore, not unfrequent for them to turn

Mahomedans; notwithstanding the fanatical attachment to their own tenets generally prevailing among them, and in spite of the vigilance and authority of the Rabbi, which here is such (at least among the Native Jews), that they can bastinado and even imprison any one who offends against their rites and precepts. To the house of Menachem, our bookseller, the whole relationship of the family came, one after another, to see and converse with us: so that the house was soon filled with Jews, Jewesses, and Jewish Children; who all conversed with an openness and freedom, which astonishes, and cannot fail to please, in these countries of restraint and suspicion. Among them were two Rabbies, who also conversed more freely than one could have expected: one of them had examined our Bibles, and pronounced them good, but the type too small. Rabbi Solomon Cohen, who we were told is the Chief Rabbi of the Tunisian Jews, readily agreed to meet us some day in the week, either at the Consulate, or where we then were, for a full and free discussion of the points at issue between us; and Menachem assured us that he was

free from that morose and bigoted spirit which generally prevails among the Rabbies here.

Tunis the most promising Station for a Mission.

Whatever was said of the excessive fanaticism of the Jews at this place, and many as the obstacles were which for some time impeded our access to them, still we have had some interesting intercourse with them; and had just got so far as to have some opening for more promising operations among them, could we have prolonged our stay.

Could a Missionary Settlement in Barbary be effected, Tunis would certainly be the place; which, together with the greatest difficulties at first, would present the best prospect of subsequent success, if made the place of residence, and the point from which to visit occasionally the other towns and villages of this and the adjoining Regencies, and to supply them with the Word of Life.

The recent conquest of Algiers by the French will, doubtless, lead to new and important relations with the Coast of Barbary; and will afford, in all probability, unlooked-for facilities for the introduction of Christianity.

Black and Caspian Seas.

SCOTTISH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE last Report furnishes the following view of the

State of the Missions at Karass and
Astrachan.

Karass-Things present much the same aspect as they have done for some years past. Mr. Galloway continues to labour with diligence and perseverance, but the wilds of Tartary remain still a moral wilderness. In reference to some visits which he had paid to the villages in the surrounding country, particularly on the Kuma and the Cashu, he lately wrote

On these occasions I had many opportunities of declaring the Gospel of the Grace of God; and met with individuals who have read our Tracts, and have a considerable knowledge of the doctrines of Christianity; but they are not converted, nor willing to make a public profession. There are always numbers to be found ready to hearken-the greater part, very probably, from no better motive than curiosity: others appear somewhat serious; but a great part shew, from time to time, that they have a hatred of the Gospel, by leaving us as soon as we begin to apply things closely to their case. In Naiquently labour, the inhabitants have acquired man Village, where we, of course, most fremore knowledge; but, in general, they oppose more bitterly, and sometimes express their fears, that they will at last be deceived by the doctrines of the New Testament: a part of these have learned to confess that salvation is not of works, but of grace; yet esteem it blasphemy to assert that grace runs in the channel which the Scripture points out, while they cannot point out any other: indeed, they have learned many things from us, which they endeavour to connect with their own system, and thus contradict themselves on every occasion. Since peace took place with Turkey, their Mahomedan Fire appears to be somewhat abated, because their religion is earthly, and speaketh wholly of the earth. Bey Mirza, the Chief of Naiman Village, who greatly opposed the Gospel, died suddenly about two months ago; and several other individuals of the same village have of late departed very suddenly: these dispensations we have endeavoured to improve, by calling the attention of the people to the things which concern their everlasting peace.

Astrachan-During the past year, Mr. Glen has proceeded with the translation of the Prophetical Books of the Old Testament into Persic, on account of the British and Foreign Bible Society: he he expects to finish the Minor Prophets had completed the book of Daniel, and in the course of the summer: after revising the translation of those books which

he has completed, it is the wish of the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society that he should revise the Historical Books of the Old Testament which have been lately translated by a Persian named Mirza Jaffier, and that he should afterward translate those books which shall not then have been translated by Mirza Jaffier. In the Report, an account was given of a Persian from Mazanderan who had been baptized by Mr. Glen, but who shortly after, having been deprived by the Persians of his wife, professed to return to the Mahomedan Faith, in the hope that they would restore her to him: though it was impossible not to entertain very serious apprehensions in regard to him, yet, as he appeared to have fallen in an hour of temptation, the Directors were not without hope that his fall might be only temporary: but it is now their painful duty to state, that these expectations have not been realized: his wife was married to a merchant, so that it seemed as if he would be disappointed of the object which he had in view; but the Persian Mollahs have lately given her back to him, after obtaining a divorce from her new husband—thus furnishing a very melancholy picture of the state of morals, and of the tone of feeling prevalent among his countrymen.

Persia.

THE Committee of the Calcutta Bible Association communicate, in their Eighth Report, some interesting intelligence relative to the

State of Mahomedanism in Shiraz.
The Committee remark-

They cannot deny themselves the pleasure of adverting to a circumstance, which they are persuaded will yield gratification to all who delight in observing the methods by which Divine Providence prepares the way for the reception of the Truth. Mr. Martyrus M. David, a respectable Armenian Gentleman in Shiraz, some months ago addressed the Committee, through his friend, Mr. Johannes Avdall, one of its members, for the purpose of inducing them to lend their aid to obtain a Persian Version of the Bible; and brought to their notice a learned Mahomedan of his city, whose services, he conceived, might be of essential importance in forwarding the end in view.

As the translation of the Scriptures does not lie within the sphere of the Bible Association's duties, the communication was transmitted entire to the Committee of the Auxiliary Bible Society; and here the duty of your Committee in regard to it terminated. Their object in noticing it at all is, to present to the friends of this Association the state of feeling which prevails in Persia on matters of Religion, as exhibited in the following extract from Mr. David's Letter.

After giving a brief account of Four Sects of Mahomedans which have separated from the rest, and the manner in which these Sectaries are treated by the orthodox disciples of the False Prophet, Mr. David adds

The Sectaries, though backed by the majority of the learned of the community, are stigmatized by their adversaries as a despicable race; and are debarred from holding public communication with their partisans on the Creed which they follow. The Ashugh Aref (the designation of one of the Sects) are less remarkable for learning, but have acquired notoriety for the great multitude of the rabble over whom they preside. They do not observe the laws of their Prophet, nor shew the least sign of fear or shame in committing the worst of vices. Not entirely disbelieving the doctrines of the Korân, they are sensible of being grievous sinners; and put their trust for salvation in the intercession of the champions of their faith. Excited by natural curiosity, they eagerly seek to make themselves acquainted with the religious opinions of different nations. Although the Word of Life disseminated among these rocks, by the indefatigable exertions of the pious Missionaries, Messrs. Henry Martyn and Joseph Wolff, has not hitherto proved productive of real advantage, it has created in their breasts a laudable desire for inquiring into the truth of Christianity. They frequently devote themselves to the perusal of the New Testament, and give various constructions to such of its passages as are considered obscure and difficult. They read the Old Testament with no less avidity; but, owing to the difficulty of the Arabic Language, in which it is written, there are comparatively few who understand what they read they burn with a fervent desire of having a Persian Version of the Old Testament.

and feelings of Natives themselves as to a practice so revolting to human-nature. Mr. Smith, on his way from Benares to Allahabad, writes

Jan. 25, 1829, from Gossegunj — The Duroga, according to his promise, collected a number of Pundits, and Brahmins, and others, more than 200; and informed me. I immediately accompanied him to the spot where they were all assembled; and, after having some conversation with the Pundits on religious subjects, the Duroga brought out a Paper written in Persian, respecting the Prohibition of Suttees, which he read before the assembly. It enjoined that NO SUTTEE should take place in future in this district but should any Woman feel determined to be burned with the corpse of her Husband, notice should be given to the Magistrate; and should it be sanctioned, she must then gather fire-wood herself and prepare the pile without making any fence to it, and it should be done in the presence of the Duroga; and after putting a slow fire to the pile, she must then voluntarily get on it; and should any person be found assisting, advising, and encouraging her in the horrid act, that they should be PROSECUTED and as the flame touches her body, should she wish to get off the pile, nobody should prevent her; and should any persons be found threatening her, in order to keep her in the flame, that they will be prosecuted as After this, I MURDERERS. addressed the GOSPEL to them for a con

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siderable time; to which all appeared very attentive, and some much affected by it. At the conclusion, I distributed many copies of Hindee Tracts, which they thankfully accepted, and put them on their heads, saying, "We shall revere these books; and truly the English are highly favoured of God; and now they wish to enlighten us.'

Ceylon.

From the Reports presented to the Annual Meeting of the Missionaries held in September, and from communications of a more recent date, we extract the following particulars relative to each department of labour at the respective Stations.

COTTA.

The Missionaries have had a painful trial, in the falling away of a

Native Assistant, who had afforded them considerable aid in the translation of the Scriptures, and of whose spiritual state they had been led to think favourably: his conduct has compelled them to put an end to his connection with the Mission.

Ministry.

The state of the Congregation at Cotta is a little improved since last year's Report, owing chiefly to the influence of the Girls' School; as each little Girl receives

a reward-ticket for the attendance of either of her parents, or of arelation.

The Congregations at the Out-Schools during the year have not been, in general, as large, or as encouraging, as during the preceding year. At some of those where few Adults have regularly attended. At we preach on the Sunday Morning, very others, the number of Adults has varied from 6 and 8 to 20. Our Sunday-Afternoon Congregations, except at one School, which has lately been discontinued, have been more numerous; particularly at Yakbadda, where the people continue to attend nearly as well as when the Place of Worship, which had been erected there chiefly at their expense, was first opened on Easter Sunday last. To this place, and Nugagoda, we go, alternately, every Sunday Afternoon. Mr. Selkirk visits Nawala every second Sunday Morning; and to one of the other four places, viz. Mirihane, Gangodawala, Papilyane, and Bewile, he goes on those Sunday MornThe Children of the Cotta, Pagoda, and ings when he does not go to Nawala. Pannikkemulla Schools attend at Cotta every Sunday Morning, at 11 o'clock. Thus all the Children belonging to all the Schools attend Divine Service once at least every week, and some of them twice.

About the commencement of the year, the Service at Pagoda School, which had, for more than a year and a half, been held weekly on the Thursday Mornings, became so very thinly attended, that Br. Selkirk began to have it only once a fortnight; and it is still continued in this way. Sometimes only two attend, beside the Master and Children; at other times,

six or eight; and seldom more than ten. About the time that this change took place, he began to go, on the alternate Thursday Mornings, to a village called Madwala, and continued to do so for two or three months. The Congregations there consisted of 50 or 60 grown-up persons, besides children: but when the