Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 1.djvu/256

202 the churches to which they belonged. Among the MSS. which I secured, was a small folio lectionary, written about 600 years ago, in a large and beautiful hand. I notice this volume particularly, for the following reason: Mr. Layard tells us that Kasha Mendu had seen the word "Ecbatana," or "Ekbadan," recorded as the ancient name of Amedia in a MS. which was once in his possession. When I revisited that town in 1850, I begged the priest to show me the MS. to which he had referred in his conversation with Mr. Layard; that is, in order not to put a leading question, I requested him to show me the book in which he had read the ancient name of Amedia. He replied at once: "I sold the book to you seven years ago;" and on further inquiry, I discovered that he meant the Lectionary. Turning to the notes of my first visit, I found that I had extracted from a record at the end of this volume the following: "This book was written at Kalaat Bibâka, which is Amedia." Kasha Mendu instantly recognized the name, and notwithstanding many after inquiries, he persisted in declaring that he neither knew nor had ever heard the word "Ekbadan." I conclude, therefore, that the author of "Nineveh and its Remains" must have misunderstood the priest. The Lectionary I presume to be at present in the library of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

In the evening, nearly all the Nestorians of the town came to visit me at the house of Kasha Mendu, and with them a number of Jews. The greatest cordiality appeared to exist between these two people, brought about by the frequent and long-continued oppression which they have shared in common. They related to me many heart-rending tales of their past sufferings, and told me what they still had to endure at the hands of their despotic rulers. Such has been the withering influence of Mohammedan despotism in this once flourishing district, that Amedia, which a few years ago contained as many as 2,000 families, does not at present contain more than 300 in all. Many of the remaining Christians and Jews would gladly leave it and seek refuge in the Tyari; but an order has been issued by the Pasha, forbidding any person to leave the town to seek a residence elsewhere. Here, then, these poor creatures are obliged to remain ground down to the dust by oppression.