arch elect should not again come to Antioch to be consecrated, but that the metropolitans, bishops, elders, and faithful should choose him who was to fill the see, and ordain him thereunto, in the church at Ctesiphon.

"I can not do better than to conclude with the following true and generous remarks made by the great ecclesiastical historian regarding the purity and simplicity of the primitive Nestorian Church: 'The Nestorians, who are also called Chaldeans, reside principally in Mesopotamia and the adjacent countries. These Christians have many doctrines and customs peculiar to themselves; but they are chiefly distinguished from all other sects by maintaining that Nestorius was unjustly condemned in the Council of Ephesus, and by holding with him that there were not only two natures but also two persons in our Saviour. In ancient times this was regarded as a capital error; at this day, it is considered by the most respectable men, even among the Roman Catholics, as an error in words rather than in thought. For these Chaldeans affirm, indeed, that Christ consists of two persons, as well as two natures; but they add, that these two persons and natures are so closely united as to constitute one aspect, or, as they express it, one Barsopa; which is the same with the Greek póownov, person. From which it appears clearly that by aspect they mean the same as we do by person; and that what we call natures, they call persons. It is to the honor of this sect, that, of all the Christians resident in the East, they have preserved themselves the most free from the numberless superstitions which have found their way into the Greek and Latin Churches' (Mosheim, cent. xvi., book iv., chap. ii.).

"Although the unfortunate Nestorians have been per secuted, harassed, and even massacred by the thousand, from the time they embraced Christianity, and very often

their bitterest enemies were, what I am ashamed to call, Christians, yet their former exploits in preaching the Gos pel of salvation to the heathen far and wide, and their courage and fortitude hitherto in keeping themselves from the superstitious practices of different Christian sects around them, have well earned for them the title of Protestants of the East.' .

"Believe me, my dear Dr. Newman, yours, most sincerely, H. RASSAM.

"The Rev. J. P. NEWMAN, D.D."

CHAPTER VIII.

Departure from Mosul.- Horseback Ride of Six Hundred Miles.- Last View of Nineveh.-First Day's Ride.-A Night with the Devil-worshipers.--Hills of Kurdistan.—The Kurds.—Stuck in the Mud.-Xenophon's Retreat. Sabbath of Feshapoor.- Crossing the Tigris.-Traveling in Mesopotamia.-Girls of Uznaoor.-Beautiful Scenery.-Nisibeen and the Nestorians.-Roman Ruins at Dara.-The True Ararat.-Heights of Mardeen.-American Mission.-Jacobite Christians.-Missionary Meeting.— Dance of the Devil-worshipers.—Attacked by Robbers.--Great Caravan. -No Water.-Beautiful Orfah.-Abraham's Fishes and Birthplace.—Ur of the Chaldees. -Armenian Christians and their Creed. - A Letter to Christ. American Church. - Roman Roads and Reservoirs. - Milking Sheep.-Picturesque Town of Birijik.-Crossing the Euphrates.-Traveling in Syria.-American Petroleum.-Three Hundred Camels, and their Habits.-Aleppo and its People. —A Funeral.-Commerce.-American Mission.-A Beautiful Lady.-Charming Scenery.-The Flood.—Roman Roads.-Wild Pass of Beylan.- First View of the Sea.- End of the Journey.

BEFORE US was a horseback ride of six hundred miles. It was a journey from Mosul to the sea. It was a tour through Western Kurdistan, through Central Mesopotamia, through Northern Syria, to Iskenderoon, on the Mediterranean. En route, we were to pass through the land of the Yezidis (the Devil-worshipers); through the country of the Nestorians, whose missions had blessed the East; and through Christian villages of the Greek and Latin churches. We were to linger at Uz, where Job suffered and triumphed; at Orfah, where Abraham was born; and at Padan-aram, where Jacob found his beautiful Rachel.

There was a shorter route, west of the Tigris and direct to Damascus; but the certainty of being attacked by robbers on the desert was a sufficient reason why we