Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 1.djvu/276

222 sincere, and courageous, than the inhabitants of the afore-mentioned countries. Their bearing is erect, but without the swagger of the Turk; their eye firm, but without ferocity; their forehead ample and high, unclouded by suspicion and evil feelings.

"But this slight superiority over neighbouring nations gives them no claim to be looked upon as a people enjoying all the real benefits of the Church to which they belong; their general demeanour and tone, their implacability towards their enemies, and many points in the daily conduct of life, are not only not consonant with, but are severely reprobated by the religion which they profess to follow. The origin of the demoralization and of the religious and intellectual prostration of this remarkable people, was beyond the control of man, and was primarily connected with those many revolutions with which it has pleased the to visit eastern nations; but the present existence and continuance of this state of things is evidently to be attributed to the want of communication with other nations, and to the neglect of education among the clergy as well as the people; and it is sincerely to be hoped that the same day that these facts shall be clearly felt and fully appreciated, will see commence the future regeneration and humanization of one of the most interesting and most remarkable, yet little known people, that are to be met with on the earth's surface."

To the above it may be added that the Nestorians are frugal and even parsimonious in their habits, and generally honest in their dealings with one another. Robberies are almost unknown in the mountains, and domestic and drunken broils are far less frequent among them than in our own country. Would that I could bear so favourable a testimony to them in other respects, but the truth forbids it. The Nestorians, though simple, are cunning, over-reaching, and covetous, and will tell falsehood after falsehood with such barefacedness that I doubt whether they consider lying a sin. Conjugal unfaithfulness and kindred crimes were scarcely heard of among them when I first visited the Tyari; but after the massacre of 1843, since which time many hundreds of Nestorians, male and female, have been