Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 1.djvu/278

224 add thereto the word "Nestorayé," when they wish to distinguish themselves from the Chaldeans who lay claim to the former title as their peculiar right, and never apply it to the Nestorians. These latter, on the other hand, seldom call the Chaldeans by any other name than that of "Frangayé," (Franks), the term "Catoleek " or Catholic, being scarcely ever heard among them. But even "Meshihayé " is an appellative less used by the Nestorians to denote those of their own sect, and Christians generally, than that of Soorayé (Syrians). Ask a Christian mountaineer what he is, and in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred the reply will be: "I am a Soorayá." If asked to explain, he will most probably add "Meshihaya Nestoraya," or "Nestoraya" only.

From the above it will appear that these people are not so averse to being called "Nestorians" as some travellers have represented. There are indeed some among them who appear to prefer the latter title to that of "Meshihayé," probably because the Chaldeans so denominate themselves; in proof of which I shall adduce the case of a little Nestorian girl of Amedia who was under Mrs. Badger's care for several months. On her first arrival at Mosul a Chaldean asked her to what community she belonged. "I am a Nestoraya," was the reply. To which the other answered: "Why do you not rather call yourself a Meshihaya; for was not the greater than Nestorius?" "Very true," retorted the girl, "but even the gipsies who play upon the tambourine celebrate the praises of the Messiah, and cry out Isa! Isa! but they are not Christians on that account." In like manner in asking the Patriarch the proper application of these several terms, he replied: "We call all Christians Meshihayé, Christiané, Soorayé, and Nsâra; but we only are Nestorayé."