Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 1.djvu/301

Rh consequently it would be difficult for me to undertake such a journey now. Moreover, our lenten fast is near, and before that is over I could not think of entering upon any business to be transacted at so great a distance. Besides, (pointing to me who served him for a third excuse) this my guest has come a long way to see me, and it would be rude in me to leave him for some time." On receiving this message, which they did standing, the two Coords, accompanied by the priest who had guided them to Asheetha, bowed to the ground and took their departure.

I cannot give the reader a better account of my proceedings in the mountains, with respect to the mission entrusted to me, than by quoting several extracts from a report to the committee of the Gospel Propagation Society, written after my return to Mosul, and dated March 30th, 1843.

"During my stay at Asheetha I had two long private conferences with the Patriarch, when I laid before him my letters commendatory from His Grace the Primate, the Lord Bishop of London, and the Anglican Bishop at Jerusalem. He appeared highly gratified with the contents, but expressed surprise that he had hitherto heard so little of us. I took frequent occasion, however, to lay before him, and many of his clergy and people, the character, teaching, and discipline, of our holy Church. I thought at times that my statements were not received with perfect confidence; but when I proceeded to confirm them by extracts from our ritual all doubt seemed to be removed. I had brought with me a copy of our Prayer Book in Arabic as a present to his Holiness, hoping that some of the mountain clergy would be able to read it; but in this I was disappointed. 'You must translate it for us into Syriac,' said Mar Shimoon, 'in order that we may know more correctly what are the doctrines and usages of your Church.' The same desire was expressed by several of the clergy, and I hope that the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge will afford me every assistance in undertaking that work. It is a necessary step which will gain for us more than any other measure the confidence of the people, and without which we shall make but little progress, especially at the outset.