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ing them the Bible and gospel to teach them of Christ and the way of eternal salvation; and it was a scene of deep interest, as Syrians, Chaldeans, Greeks, and Armenians all came forward to express their gratitude in the name, and for the love of Christ.

In the afternoon, we celebrated with them the communion of the Lord's supper, and truly sat together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, calling to mind His sufferings and death upon the cross for our salvation.

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"One hundred and sixty copies of the Scriptures have been sold and distributed from this station during the last nine months. They also send out native helpers to sell and distribute the Scriptures in the towns and villages around, and to make tours in the mountains of Koordistan. Thus, through various means, the Word of God is having free course, and is glorified in this ancient land. 'At Hassankeefa, the city hewn in rock, I counted seven large mosques, in the finest style of Saracenic architecture, now crumbling to ruins near the city. As I sat among these ruins reading the Bible, one of the Turkish soldiers, who had taken passage with us upon the raft, stepped up to me, and asked if it was the 'Ingil Sheriff' -(the holy Gospel.) I answered, 'Yes, and I also have one in Turkish, if you wish.' Immediately on my return he came to me, and begged a Testament; and as I gave it to him, he began at once to read it aloud, that all his companions might hear; and every day since, upon the raft, I have heard him reading his Testament aloud to himself and his fellows with much earnestness. Our earnest prayer is that it may lead him to renounce the religion of the false prophet, and sincerely receive the truth as it is in Jesus."

CHAPTER XX.

HIS JOURNAL.

MR RIGHTER kept a journal or diary, containing brief notes of the events of each day, during all the time of his second absence from home, until his last illness. Several volumes of such notes were returned to his friends, but they are so brief as not to admit of being transcribed. They were more full on this last journey than they had been before, and it is the source of very deep interest to those who were acquainted with him, and it will be to all into whose hands this volume may fall, that his last records were so full. They shew more conclusively than the testimony of others, how truly his heart was devoted to the great work in which he was engaged-how untiring he was in its prosecution, and how cheerfully and even joyfully he arose each day to enter upon its duties and toils. This journal is given entire from the day of his reaching Mosul :

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"NOVEMBER 8, 1856.

"A splendid clear morning, and are rejoiced at the prospect of reaching Mosul in a few hours, and meeting with our excellent Christian friends there.

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'At noon we came in sight of the minarets and walls of Mosul and Nebby Jonas, the tomb of Jonah, covering the ruins of ancient Nineveh, on the opposite side of the

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river. It is beautiful in the distance, under the clear sunlight of an Oriental sky. The shores are clothed with green; the river flows with a broad and majestic current; the walls rise grandly in front, and I greatly enjoy the scene as we float on quietly toward both the ancient and modern city. See several of the native women on the banks of the river, their long black hair flowing down their shoulders in graceful style. The shores are also planted with watermelons that are just gathered for the market.

"The city now stands out fully before us with its walls, battlements, minarets, and towers, in stately Oriental style. Sail beside the city walls-count 300 women washing and beating clothes by the river side. Come to anchor near the bridge of boats; are received by a mingled crowd of turbaned natives; a guide directs us through the muddy streets, like Stamboul, towards the house of the American missionaries; meet Mr Marsh and Dr Haskell coming to meet us on horseback-insist upon our mounting and riding-streets, coffee-shops, quite like Eastern cities. Arrive at the mission house-large court with a large tree and singing birds in the centre-cordial welcome; see Mrs Marsh, and Mrs Lobdue, and the children. Ride out upon the plain outside of the city; quite like Egypt in the sky and view, and mild, mellow light. Excellent Arab horses; much enjoy the ride, also a fine walk on the house-top, and view over the city. Have a delightful social prayer-meeting with the missionaries in the evening.

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"Am awakened by the cheerful singing of birds in the court. This morning see Kos-ma-chiel, who was formerly

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a Catholic Nestorian priest, and was in Rome five months, where he became a Protestant.

"Attend the Bible class in the chapel; fifty or sixty were present, seated on their knees in Eastern stylevenerable, fine-looking men wearing large round turbans. I address them in behalf of the Bible cause-visit to Egypt, the Crimea, and the Kuzelbash. They listen with much interest, and then come forward to shake me by the hand and thank the American Bible Society for sending them the Bible and gospel of salvation. It was an impressive scene as these Syrians, descendants of the old Assyrians, in sight of the ruins of ancient Nineveh, thus expressed their gratitude for receiving the Word of God at our hands.

"I was much pleased with the neat chapel and intelligent congregation. In the evening have a meeting for organising a branch of the Evangelical Alliance. After hearing of the Turkey branch of the Alliance, and discussing the matter with much interest, they unanimously and cordially expressed their desire to form a branch, and thus be linked with Christians in all parts of the East and the world. It was a meeting of much interest. They cheerfully came forward and signed their names in Arabic to our rules and regulations-fourteen members, all who could write.

"The women wear a black mask upon their heads, which, when it is drawn, entirely conceals their face.

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"Another very delightful morning. Ride on horseback to the Pasha's palace. Very pleasant reception by the Pasha in his audience-room, overlooking the Tigris.

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Hamdi Pasha, a fine-looking gentleman of the modern school, heartily shook hands with us, and bade us welcome. He had not often the honour of a visit from English and Americans-entertains us with chebouks, preserves, and coffee in Oriental style. He hoped that a friendly intercourse with each other would increase-it would be to our mutual benefit. He remarked that now Mussulmans, and Christians, and Jews were becoming brothers. My friend said we have one Father. 'Yes,' he replied, 'Allah was Lord of all the earth; not only the God of the mountains but also of the plains.' I remarked his views were the same as the Sultan's, as declared in the Hatti humayoun. 'Yes,' said he, 'the Firman was read in Arabic and Turkish in the grand court of the palace to all the people, and it would be his object to have it fully carried out.' He greatly rejoiced in it. In comparing the present with the past, great advance was made. The meaning of the word Koort was originally wolf, and it is now dog, and he hoped they would soon make it sheep. He pressed us to take a guard of his soldiers that we might pass with honour through the country. He rose as we left and took leave of us with friendly salutations, 'salam safa guelduig, khosh guelduig,'-(welcome, much welcome.) He would do us the favour of returning our visit. Then we call upon the Deftudar Kyiah, who received us in a similar cordial manner, entertained us in the same style, and expressed the same enlightened views in regard to English and Americans. The Pasha had been six years from Stamboul, and his secretary the same. We were greatly delighted with our visit thus far, in the interior. Call to visit the Bible depôt, at the large new khan of the English consulate, near the two principal gates of the city.

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