Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 1.djvu/337

Rh a number from their present spiritual rulers for the purpose of forming them into a distinct community. Besides the irregularity of such a proceeding, there are political difficulties in the way of its accomplishment which would render any means to this end abortive.

"In connection with the Nestorians of Tyari we have also been labouring, with the sanction and co-operation of Mar Shimoon, among those who still people many villages in the province of Bahdinân. Kasha Mendu of Amedia has been engaged by us for some time in teaching the few Nestorian children in that town. Kasha Narsi, the priest of Inishk, in the valley of the Supna, who went over to Rome two years ago and had been followed by all the villagers, has since repented, and is now engaged by us in instructing his people and their children in the orthodox faith. Priest Gheorghees of Asheetha, who accompanied Mar Shimoon in his flight to Mosul, has been sent by me to the village of Musakan, in Upper Berwari, to take the care of the refugees from Tyari who have peopled it. He is also engaged to teach the children, and does occasional duty in one or two neighbouring villages which are destitute of clergy. He took with him letters from the Patriarch to Mar Yeshua-yau of Doori, the Bishop of the diocese in which Musakan is situated, requesting him to sanction the appointment. Having lately heard of several villages near Akra, who still maintained their ancient creed, and refused to submit to Mutran Yoosef, the Chaldean Bishop of Alkôsh, we sent Kas Stephan, a Chaldean priest favourable to reform, with letters from Mar Shimoon to visit in that direction. He found the villages ten in number,