sun. Early on the 20th they resumed their journey, and lodged the night following at Kara, where, after having encamped, they were visited by a number of Mussulmans, with whom they had a discussion about the Mahommedan faith. In the night they were disturbed by the firing of guns, and the cry of "robbers," which proved however to be a false alarm.

On the 21st and 22d they proceeded as usual, setting off from their encampment very early in the morning, and resting during the hours, when the heat was most oppressive. They had spirited religious discussions with the principal Mahommedans in the caravan, feeling it to be their duty to vindicate before all the cause of Christ.

They left Hooms on the 23d, which they speak of as being a pleasant city, and favorable for a summer residence. After five hours ride they encamped on the banks of a river in a deep valley, not far distant from an encampment of Bedouins. At half past four the next day, they resumed their journey, and by ten o'clock arrived at Hamah, supposed to be the Hamath of the Scriptures, a little distance from which they set themselves down in the dust. Here they called on the principal Greek priest, who was found friendly to the distribution of the Scriptures. According to his statement it was judged, that there were 25 or 30,000 inhabitants in that city, a thousand of whom were Christians of the Greek church.

On the 25th, their caravan was increased by one from Tripoli, so that the whole consisted of between three and four hundred persons. While on their way the cry, "Auwafee! auwafee!" (safety) was set up by some of the men, and the whole body stopped. It was rumored, that horsemen were seen on the distant hills, and that there was danger from robbers. After some delay they moved, and soon were visited by two Bedouins, who on their fleet

horses rode backward and forward by the side of the caravan, as if to take the number, and then giving reins to their horses, returned to the hills without disclosing the object of their excursion. After a tedious journey they encamped at Shekhoon, where they found a caravan from Aleppo. There was neither tree nor rock to shelter them from a burning sun, whose rays were reflected from all quarters, while the wind, almost as hot as that of the desert, whirled clouds of dust and sand over them, with which they were soon covered. In this dreary situation they sat down to spend the day. Finding it almost impossible to remain thus, they endeavored to screen themselves in part from the dust and wind, by fastening sheets to one side of their tent. Here they ate their dinner, which consisted of bread and leban; but soon their dishes were covered with dust. It was the Sabbath;-and their thoughts reverted back to their native land, where the happy multitudes were going up to the house of God; while they like exiles were sitting in the sand, scorched by the sun, weakened by burning winds, with nothing to eat but sour milk; and bread dried by the heat of eight or ten days.

On Monday they proceeded on their toilsome way, and stopped at a village, where they witnessed the ruins of the great earthquake, which happened two years previous to that time.

On Tuesday 27th they travelled about four hours, and finding a comfortable place to rest for the day in the house of a Mussulman, they stopped, and availed themselves of the opportunity. Here they obtained some fresh provisions. Early on the following morning they set off on their journey, and soon were joined by a large caravan from Lattakia. An addition to their number at this time relieved them from the fears, which they would have had during this day's journey, as it was considered the most perilous part of the way, they had to travel.—

Travellers in the vicinity, through which they were passing that day, were often attacked and robbed by Arabs. After twelve hours ride they had the satisfaction of reaching Aleppo, where they met with a very kind reception from Mr. Barker, the British consul, at whose house they remained several days.

The arrival of these missionaries produced in that city an immediate alarm among the Mussulman authorities; and on the very next day the consul received a message from the pasha, stating that a firman had been received by him, prohibiting the distribution of the Holy Scriptures among the grand signor's subjects. This was supposed to have been done through the agency of Roman Catholics. And thus was accomplished the apocalyptic prediction, that the Beast and the False Prophet would form an alliance. Rev. xvii, 14; xix, 11-21.

August 4th Mr. Fisk took lodgings in the house of an Arab of the Greek church. As soon as a suitable instructer could be procured, he resumed the study of Arabic.

TO REV. MR. TEMPLE, MALTA.

"Aleppo, Sept. 11, 1824.

"Mr. King and myself are now living quite among Arabs, he in one family and I in another, busily engaged in learning the language, and in conversing with individuals and families. I have had a slight attack of fever since my arrival here, but am now in tolerably good health. The heat has been very oppressive; the thermometer for a considerable time from 94° to 96°. Now it is only at 84 or 850, and we begin to think this very comfortable weather.

"Possibly you may have heard, before this reaches you, of the extraordinary firman which has been issued by the sultan relative to the distribution of

the Scriptures. This firman forbids the introduction into the country of the Scriptures printed in Europe, and commands, that wherever any of them are found, they be taken and burnt, and that all such as arrive at the custom houses hereafter be sent back to Europe. Now this looks very formidable, for if the firman is strictly obeyed, the introduction of the Scriptures into the country must be effectually prevented. I have, however, strong confidence, (though I hardly know why,) that the effect will not be so extensive and unpleasant as might at first thought, be anticipated. The pasha of this place, on receiving the firman, gave notice to Mr. Barker, and four or five cases of books, which had just arrived and were still in the custom house were detained; but the depot, which Mr. Benjamin Barker had opened here for the sale of the Scriptures was not molested. The kadi gave orders that proclamation be made in the churches, requiring all who possessed any of these books to deliver them up to him. It is a fact worthy of notice, that he did not send this order to the Greeks, but only to the different churches that are subject to the pope. have reason to believe that a great number of Catholics in Aleppo are in possession of these books; but according to the best information I can obtain, only four have been given up to the kadi.

We

"I have to-day seen a Greek priest from Killis, a town twelve hours from this place, on the way to Armenia. He informs me that a short time since, a copy of the firman was received there, in consequence of which the Turks went to the churches, took possession of all the books they could find, arrested the priests, and himself among the rest. They were kept in confinement only one day and then dismissed, and the books, after a slight examination, were all restored. None of the Bible Society's books had been distributed in Killis, but there were, among the books in the church, Testaments and

Psalters, printed in England, and distributed here nearly one hundred years ago by Mr. Sherman, an English merchant of Aleppo, which were all restored with the other books. You will perhaps be surprised, I am sure you will be pleased, to hear that this priest, notwithstanding all that has happened, is anxious to receive a Bible, and has pleaded his poverty, and the fact that there is not a single Bible among the Greeks in Killis, till I have resolved to give him the only Arabic Bible I have with me. is scarcely possible that such a firman should not, for a time, interrupt and impede our work. We do not know what the result will be. But we do know, and it is enough for us to know, that the counsel of the Lord standeth forever, and he will do all his pleasure. Knowing this, let us diligently do our duty, and patiently await the event.

It

"I have been reflecting on the practicability and expediency of attempting to procure the necessary apparatus for lithography, and intend to consult my brethren at Beyroot on the subject, when I return there. We might in this way publish Tracts in the country, and probably in a style that would be more acceptable to the people of the country than printed Tracts.

"I hope our patrons will, before long, send helpers both to you and us. In the best time the long expected reinforcements will arrive. May they all come with a right spirit, and may we be prepared to receive them and labor with them in a right spirit. The concerns of our mission are more and more complicated and difficult: opposition is showing itself in many forms, circumstances call for the exercise of much wisdom, but above all for a humble reliance on the guidance and protection of Heaven. Be not intimidated at any of the things that have happened to us; for the Lord of Hosts is our refuge. Let us not fear what man can do to us.—I hope you are both growing in grace, and find increasing com