brother of Capt. Lyons of H. M. S. Madagascar, who I well knew in the Mediterranean. I gave in my lectures the following

ILLUSTRATIONS OF SCRIPTURAL PASSAGES.

Leviticus xxi. 5. "Nor make any cuttings in their flesh." This is now done by Armenian Christians, and those pilgrims who go to Jerusalem, and by Hindoos also.

Numbers v. 2. Till this day the lepers at Jerusalem and Damascus are not permitted to dwell within the city.

Deut. xxviii. 41. The Jews in Georgia are the property of the Georgian Princes.

I

Deut. xxxii. 32. "For their vine is of the vine of Sodom." saw at the Dead sea a fruit growing on a sort of bramble, in the form of a grape of a yellow colour, looking beautiful externally, but as soon as it is crushed, it is found evidently poisonous. This explains the meaning of the reproach made by Moses to the Jews; in their external appearance (having been taken as the chosen people of God, and His tokens being bestowed upon them) they were beautiful; but their interior (their moral) character was bad, like the fruit of Sodom.

Joshua v. 7. The Mandaye Yahya, the followers of John the Baptist, who are also called Sabeans, and who reside at Bussora, Gurno, Shoosh and Desbul, in Khusistan, relate that they originally descended from Haran, came to Egypt, went out from thence with the Children of Israel, who whilst they were in the desert, were again circumcised; this induced the Sabeans to separate from the Children of Israel, as they, the Mandaye Yahya had been always opposed to circumcision from the time of Abraham.

Joshua iv. 2-10. The Arabs who travel with their families, before they remove from any place, gather stones and put them together.

Joshua x. 10. "Makkedah" is the mother city of Maquedah in Spain, colonized by Jews.

Kadesh-barneah, the mother city of Cadiz in Spain. (See Marianna's history of Spain.)

Joshua xvii. 6. The Jews object to Jesus being the son of David, saying that Jesus was only the son of David from the mother's line, and a woman does not inherit the right of a man. This verse in Joshua refutes their objection; for the daughters of Zelophehad inherited the rights of sons. They were ladies in their own right. 1 Samuel i. 9, 10. Thus barren wives in the East to this day perform pilgrimages to holy places.

1 Samuel i. 11. 1. To this day Armenian women often make a vow, that in case they should be blessed with a son, he should become a monk. 2. No razor comes upon the head of a Dervish, which is a mark of a man who has dedicated his life to God.

1 Samuel x. 5. The external form of those holy men is still existing among the dancing Fakeers of Constantinople, and those in the valley of Cashmeer.

iii. 27. Ali Pasha of Yanina was killed in the same of the Pashas. See Dr. Walsh's travels.

In the same verse: "For the blood of Asahel his brother." As soon as a Toorkomaun kills the relation of another Toorkomaun, or the guest of one, he becomes "Khoondar," i. e. having blood upon him; and the other does not rest until he (the Khoondar) is killed for the blood of his murdered relation.

2 Kings ii. 13. "He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him." The mantle of a Dervish is considered as sacred: the Dervish with whom I travelled from Balkh to Cabool, was very angry when an Affghaun by chance sat upon his mantle, and exclaimed, "Is this mark of the Prophet no longer esteemed?"

2 Kings iii. 11. It is the custom in the East that the servants pour water upon the hands of their masters in the morning, and as often as they are going to prayer, and after the meal; and one who is the servant of a holy man, is on this account highly esteemed.

2 Kings iv. 1. This is frequently done in the East: at Damascus, Bagdad, and Bokhara, the sons are taken as bondmen by the creditors of their father.

2 Kings viii. 4. Thus Kings of the East talk with the servants of others about the business of their masters; for instance, GooshBekee, the Prime Minister of the King of Bokhara talked with my Jewish servant about my affairs.

2 Kings xi. 1. This horrid policy was carried on till lately at Constantinople, and is still practised at Bokhara.

2 Kings xiii. 21. I see therefore no reason to disbelieve the account of St. Augustin, with regard to the miracles performed by means of the dead bodies of Gervasius and Protasius.

1 Chron. ii. 16, 17. Here are the sons mentioned from the mother's line.

Verses 34, 35. Here are instances among the Jews sometimes of the father not being at all taken into consideration; as is the case in many places of the Himmalayah Mountains, and at many courts of the Rajahs, as at Trevancore, &c.

2 Chron. xxx. 15. "Asaph." The name of this person, of whom we have some psalms, is celebrated in Affghanistaun, and in the valley of Cashmeer; he is believed to have been one of David's Ministers.

Job i. 17. Similar invasions in Persia are made by the Chaldeans and Curds around Julamerik, and by the Circassians in Georgia, and by the Arabs around Bagdad.

DEPARTURE FROM SATTARAH, AND ARRIVAL AT POONAH. Nov. 20.-I left Sattarah, and arrived on

Nov. 21, at Poonah, where I received a most cordial reception in the house of Colonel Wood. Majors Morse, Mountain, and the rest of the officers, kindly called on me, and Col. Wood introduced ine to General Sir James Barnes, the Commander of the station, by whose permission I was allowed to lecture in the cantonment in the Freemasons' hall.

Here I made acquaintance with the highly talented, zealous, learned and successful Missionary of the Scotch Missionary So

ciety, the Rev. Mr. Stevenson, who invited me to preach for him

in his chapel.

Nov. 22.-I lectured again, upon the subject of decision and earnestness in preaching the Gospel.

BENEE ISRAEL.

Nov. 23.-I went with Mr. Stevenson among the few Benee Israel, Children of Israel, who are resident at Poonah: they are totally distinct from the rest of the Jews in Europe and Hindoostaun. Soon after the destruction of the first temple, they came in seven ships (thus they relate their own story) from Arabia into Hindoostaun, where they have since forgotten their Law, but continue to repeat in Hebrew certain prayers, which they have learnt from the other Jews; they also read the Pentateuch, but without understanding the language. They have synagogues; but they have not in them, like the rest of the Jews, the Sepher Torah, or the five books of Moses written upon parchment; for they say, "As we are soldiers, and do not keep the Law, the Sepher Torah may do us harm if it stands in the midst of us." They serve the English as volunteers in their armies, and are esteemed the best native soldiers. They possess great simplicity and honesty of character, are faithful to their wives, and by far more moral than the Jews of Cochin. But they keep hidden in their houses some Hindoo idols, and beside this a great many charms, which they wear like the Kemias of the Jews. I conversed with several of them about Jesus Christ our Lord; they produced objections against his divinity, which they have evidently heard from the other Jews. They know the Ten Commandments of our Lord by heart in the English tongue; and they begin now to send their children to the schools of the Scotch Missionaries.

NUMBER OF THE BENEE ISRAEL AT AND AROUND BOMBAY.

At Panwell, 800 families; Shwardhan, 5; Walwaticha, 10; Alibay Reodanda, 20; Karanja, 10; Rohè Asthanri, 20; Apta, 10; Rajpoore, 20; Poonah, 10; Bombay, 1000; in all 1905 families, or 9520 souls.

LETTER FROM THE REVEREND FRE JOSEPH A S. AUGUSTIN OF GOA.

After having had full and free discussion with the Augustinian friars at Goa, it was gratifying to observe that they were far from having any ill will against me, as will appear by the following letter.

Reverend Father Joseph Wolff,

I hope that your Reverence will have arrived safely and in health. Your absence caused me great sorrow, for your Reverence's company entertained me very much by your learning. I enclose herewith the paper which you asked of me, which, after it has been translated, you will please to return. And you may be assured that I will send you the other curious document. Any order that

you give me, I will execute freely. May Almighty God keep you for many years.

(Signed)

Goa, Nov. 3, 1833.

FRE JOSEPH of S. Augustin.

Nov. 25, 27, and 28.-I lectured before a very numerous congregation, and gave among other subjects the following

SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

2 Sam. x. 4. This is the greatest insult to an oriental at this day; it frequently happens that a bigotted Mussulman cuts off the beard of a Christian or Jew. Even Lady Esther Stanhope punished one of her Janissaries in this manner.

Jeremiah li. 51. When lately an English gentleman entered the temple of Omar at Jerusalem, the Mohammedans enraged, exclaimed, “People of Mohammed, infidels have entered the Sanctuary!"

Isaiah lx. 6. Large caravans of camels laden with merchandise travel always towards large commercial towns in the East, as Cairo, Bagdad, and Damascus.

Matthew xxv. 6. When a wedding is celebrated in the East, suddenly at midnight, when all are asleep, a shout, or rather a scream is heard "the bridegroom!" which is the signal of the arrival of the bridegroom.

I then lectured on the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; took leave of my kind host, Colonel Wood, and set out for Bombay.

On my arrival at Panwell, I found the Missionary Mr. Nisbet, who went with me to the Benee Israel, to whom I proclaimed the Gospel. Mr. Nisbet made my Hindoostanee interpreter. After I had left the Beenee Israel, I prepared to set out with Mr. Nisbet for Bombay. Mr. William E. Frere and Mr. Farish had kindly sent a boat for me to Panwell, which is only twenty miles distant from Bombay. The Benee Israel at Poonah were by far more alive to the subject of religion than those of Panwell.

ARRIVAL AT BOMBAY.

Nov. 29.-I arrived at Bombay, and was most kindly received by my friend Mr. James Farish, and the Archdeacon Carr, who resided with Mr. Farish at the time.

Nov. 30.-I preached in the American chapel, where I met after service the worthy servants of Christ the Rev. Mr. Stone, American Missionary, the Rev. John Wilson, the champion against the Mohammedans, the Parsees, and Hindoos; my friend Robert Money, &c.

Dec. 1.-I went with the Archdeacon to Lord Clare, who received me very graciously, and permitted me to lecture in the Town hall.

Dec. 2.-I dined with Mr. Williams, and expounded the Scriptures of truth to the company who were met together.

Dec. 3.-I lectured in the Town hall to a congregation of about

800 people, composed of English, Parsees, Armenians, Mussulmans, Portuguese, and Hindoos.

Dec. 4.-I preached in the Scotch Mission chapel, at the request of Mr. Wilson.

Dec. 5.-I lectured again in the Town hall.

Dec. 6.-I lectured in the house of Mr. Farish, in the presence of Lord Clare, on whose account the party was assembled.

I deem it unnecessary to detail my conversations with the Mohammedans at Bombay, which I carried on without interpreter in the Persian tongue, in the presence of the following persons: Robert Money, Persian Secretary, who has published it in the Bombay Courier; the Rev. John Wilson; Ruben Aslan, the British Agent of Muscat; and before several Parsees; but I will just make some observations respecting the

JEWS OF BOMBAY.

There are about fifty families, chiefly from Bussorah, Bagdad, Muscat, and other parts of Mesopotamia, and partly from Yemen. The richest Jew among them is Sooliman Yakoob, in whose house one Sabbath day all were assembled; the conversation was carried on in the most friendly manner, in the presence of Mr. Wathin; I spoke in Hebrew, chiefly with a Rabbi of Jerusalem, who had just arrived at Bombay for the purpose of collecting money from the Jews.

Ezechiel at Bombay made the following sharp observations: "The Christians try to make us believe that all prophecies respecting our redemption were fulfilled on our return from Babylon; how can this be? 1. Deut. xxiv. it is written, "If any of thine be driven out unto the utmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee;' whilst we read in Ezra ii. that only 42,360 souls returned from Babylon? And secondly, Deut. xxx. 5, it is said, 'And he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers;' whilst during the time of the second temple we were in continual trouble. 3dly, in Ezech. xxxix. 28. 'But I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there;' many Jews remained even in Babylon after the captivity, and only two tribes returned. 4thly, in Isaiah lx. 10, it is said, 'And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls;" and we know by Nehemiah iv. that the Jews themselves built up the walls at that time with great trouble."

These were the observations of Ezechiel at Bombay; but I, believing their restoration, easily sentenced him.

The Benee Israel are distinct from the other Jews of Bombay; I preached the Gospel to them from house to house, with the assistance of Mr. John Wilson, as they neither speak Hebrew nor Persian. There are about 1000 families. They have one synagogue. The name of their Chief is Daud Captan, a superstitious man.

HINDOO FAKEER.

Mr. Wilson and myself went to see a Fakeer, celebrated for his