Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 1.djvu/384

330 and other trinkets, over which a kerchief is lightly thrown. In going abroad they substitute for this a species of turban with a deep projection in front, and a capacious tcerchef or white sheet, and horse-hair veil, which envelope the whole person. The poorer Mohammedan females of the town and surrounding villages wear a different coiffure, consisting of a square and flat reed-work which rises about a foot above the head, and over this a long tarboosh or red cap is drawn, the blue tassel being allowed to hang down in front.

The language most commonly spoken at Urfah is Turkish, Arabic being but little known except by those who trade with the neighbouring Bedooeen. The Christians generally converse together in Armenian, very few of the Syrians being acquainted even with the vulgar dialect of their national tongue. The epistolary correspondence of the Syrians is generally carried on in Turkish expressed in Syriac characters, and they possess a few books written in this style. I procured a Syro-Turkish Psalter during my visit in the hope of getting it published for the benefit of the Jacobite Christians of this district, many of whom expressed a strong desire for elementary and other works prepared after this model.

Since our visit Mokdisi Yeshua, whose guest we were, has been appointed British consular agent at Urfah, and I have been pleased to hear of the assistance which he has frequently rendered to English travellers passing this way. He is a man of great influence among the Syrians generally, and is not only well-disposed towards our Church, but joined with the Bishop in expressing the hope that we would use every endeavour to benefit their community, in which he promised his cordial cooperation. It is my firm belief that had it not been for the care which he exerted to prevent the schism, very many of the Jacobites would have listened to the persuasions of the Latin missionaries, who have lately established themselves here, and have seceded to the Church of Rome.

The staple produce of the district is wool, which is sent from here to Alexandretta and thence shipped to Europe. The town is supplied with wheat and barley from the extensive plain south of the road leading to Birejik which is called Serooj. Rice is brought from about Karajah Dagh; and fuel, of which there