IVORTAB]T'S STRIA. AND THE SYRIANS..

A. GOOD portion, of these volumes might have been omitted with advantage,—such as florid descriptions of scenery, 'resuraes from Jewish, classicaL, mediceval, or modern history, diffuse reflections on sacred places which smack strongly of the pulpit and the plat- itirm, with similar practices to eke out space ; though in Mr.

• Syria and the Syrians ; or Turkey in the Dependencies. y. Gregory X. Wor- tabet of Bayroot, Syria. In two volumes. Published by Madden.

Wortabet's instance we believe it arises rather from ignorance of what is wanted in a work like this, than from bookmaking art. His style of observation as well as of expression is somewhat juvenile: in short, in all that relates to external features, which the passing traveller can see as well as the resident, Syria and the Syrians con- tains nothing that has not been already given to the world with ter sail in the selection and greater force in the exhibition. ere are matter and information in the volumes, however, which only a native can possess, although somewhat of prejudice and feeling may very likely mingle with the knowledge. . Wortabet is a native Syrian. His father was an Armenian ecclesiastic, and• an early convert to Protestantism, when Protest- ant missions began earnestly and systematically to operate in that region, upwards of thirty years ago. This change subjected Mr. Wortabet senior to such persecution as his former coreligionists had power to inflict : but he adhered firmly to his new creed, brought up his family in its belief, and,. after labouring in various ways to advance the Protestant cause against the so-called Oriental Chris- tianity, secured a niche in missionary annals on his death. His family continue Protestants. Our author's brother is minis- ter of the church at Hasbaija, a place on the Eastern side of Le- banon, near one of the original sources of the Jordan ; he is also the bodily physician of his flock. Mr. Gregory M. Wortabet himself appears to be connected with the missions. At all events, he has visited America and. England under religious patronage ; and on his return to Syria, in December 1854, he made a tour through the county as far as Damascas towards the North and Jerusalem and, the Jordan in an opposite direction, Lake Tiberias being included in his exploration. Of this tour the volumes be- fore us consist, blended with incidents of journeys undertaken some years ago, and_ overlaid in the manner already, indicated. The points of interest Mr. Wortabet brings out relate to the corrupted state of the Oriental churches, the persecuting spirit they indulge in so far as they have the power, and to the efforts Rome is making to extend her dominion. This she does, not by persuasion or other legitimate- means, but by a prostitution of the "protection." granted to foreign authorities in Turkey ; France being the nation that acts as the Papal ally, and, in Mr. -Wertabet's opinion, more blameable than Russia in origi-' noting the present war. The spread of Protestantism, and the superiority of its professors not only in real religion but the pro- prieties of life, is another topic, as well as- the misgovernment anct oppression of the Turks. Mr. Wortabet's remedy for the last. is what has lately been granted.by the- Divan, on paper—the equality of Christians and Mahometana Our author- thinks the only true mode of effecting the object will be to repeal. the law which punishes with death a. Mahometan who should- turn Chris- It is. probable that on all these points the opinions must be taken with some qualification ; for Mr. Wortabet seems to have a full share of that weakness which distinguishes many, religionists, of believing what he wishes. According to him, the Protestant com- munities are distinguished: by greater moral and, social virtues' than the Romanist or Oriental Christians—by greater godliness and greater cleanliness. "Immediately after morning worship,. our host told us- that he had re- ceived and accepted an invitation for us to break fsst at the-house of-another Protestant brother; and, consequently, we went there, enjoying by the way a beautiful view of the scenery around and of Tiberias in the distance. We found our friend waiting for us, who heartily welcomed us- to his house: As our time was brief, we made quick work, and enjoyed our breakfast, which was plain but clean and here I willremark, that one of the effects. which have resulted since the gospel light has dawnedon-this land is, that. the natives have become cleanly in their habits and more polished in their manners. There is no gainsaying this filet; and, as an illustration, I would only say that there was no comparison between the clean beds- and good cooking of our friends here, who perhaps have not an income of more thaw 20/. or 30/. a year, and the house of the Sheikh of llamas, a chief by pedi- gree, whose income cannot be much short of 1000/., and yet his rooms and everything about him were Au' from being as clean as those of our peer friends. Indeed,, this is a notorious fact, and I have observed it elsewhere; and no better illustration can I cite than Treland, where we see her Protest- ant peasantry, though living in its sterile portion.; cleanly clad, whilst the Roman Catholics of the same class, though reading in its fertile portion,. live in the same hut with the pig and the cow."

Mr.. Wortabet notices the display made by the French on al' occasions ;. which, so far as Syria is concerned., is much greater than by the Russians, inasmuch as the last cannot have their ships- of war so constantly in the Mediterranean. This display exhi- bited. itself when the Duke of Brabant visited Jerusalem this tirae last year. The arrogance and ill-breeding were as great as Rus- sia could..have shown, thoughTapal and Belgiii rather than Galin

"At last the news mune that ha-had landed at Jaffa with a numerous suite, and had proceeded on his way to Jerusalem, and would arrive.there on Friday the 30th of Maroh. Now /'rillay was the Sabbath of the Malice- niedansi and on which, it has been a custom ever since the holy, city felL into the hands of the Moslems, to shut its gates during the mid-day prayer., It 'would-be folly. to suppose that neither he nor these who-had the care of the arrangements of his entry to Jerusalem knew this fact; but, neverthe- less, he persisted in arriving on that day, much to the horror of pious

Moslems. • • * * * *

, "At twelve o'clock precisely (the hour of mid-day prayer) - he enters& the gates of Jernsalem-under a salute of twenty,ane guns. ll was standing in the window of Mr. B—'s banking-rooms,. and had a full view of the noble party,. and of the whole proceeding. The Duke appeared to ma quite- young ; the Duehessappearedelder : he waa dressedin a military uniform.. At the gate they were met by the clergy; who came dressedin all their car nonicals, and carrying crucifixes in their hands. Ifere they stopped,'. and, the Duke, uncovering his head, was blessed by the Patriarch ! What a siglitTtoerila■tahomodanal ovBerutot leis was nnootwatrmed themselves. In front of ' all walked the Pasha ; after him came a host of government anth consular caresses; then a choir of boys dressed in white surplices, carrying crucifixes

and candles in their hands ; after them came a lot of monks, dressed in glit- tering robes, who chanted the Te Deum • the Duke and his lady followed ; then the various Consuls; then their anicmans; then the suite of the Duke; and, last of all, the populace. this style they marched to the church of the Holy Sepulchre, guarded on both sides by a body of sol- diers. At the church he attended service ; and then in like manner as

before was led to his lodgings at the house of the Austrian Consul. Such a sight, it may truly be said, had never been witnessed in Jerusalem since

the Turks became its masters. Such a triumphant Christian entry tramp- ling upon the prejudices of its masters would have done credit to the time when the holy city was first taken by the Crusaders. "But Mahomedan concession, thanks to the policy of an enlightened Pasha, went even further. The gates of the Mosque of Omar, which have hitherto, with a few exceptions, been for centuries closely shut against the Christians, were thrown open to him ; and, as a compliment to him, the various Consuls were also invited, and sundry other persons, among whom was the author." .

All this may be Papal policy, but it hardly seems Western policy, or even prudent. To prevent oppression reform abuses, and raise the Christian to an equality with the Milometan, is pro- per : to offend the religious prejudices and to trample on the reli- gious feelings of a very fanatical people, is quite another matter; —they may, with Oriental submission, be quiet at the moment, but the barb will rankle. England, however, would seem to be undermining the secular power of the Turk, ;hough in more sub- stantial matters and in a quieter way. The site of the following strange story is the Eastern or inner side of the Lebanon range.

"This village, a couple of years ago, was quite abandoned, on account of the mortgage system ; but now it has been entered under the protection of the English Consul at Damascus,' so the people said, and now it is doing better. • • • • The more that one looks on the policy of Turkey he sees a miserable and contemptible government—one in which the foreign consul of any of the least potentates of Europe has as much say or sway as the

pasha. Only fancy a whole village enrolling themselves under the protec- tion of the British Consul ! Turkey, however, does not lose by that : on the contrary, she rather likes it; for, by throwing the management of the neople on the Consul, she gets her revenues—and that is all she cares about in the question—without much trouble to herself. Mr. Wood, apparently exerts great influence hero; for wherever we went the people flocked around. us, taking us for English, and saying, 'We belong to you. "

It does not appear that all the Western. influences are for good ; honesty not being one of the imports front that quarter. Our author is constrained to admit that the Turk is honestor than the Christian, more charitable, and tolerant if left alone. The Levantine Christian's failings, however, are not his fault, but his misfortune in being the first exposed to evil communications.

"It is said that the Mahomedan is more trustworthy than the Christian : this fact is true ; and is thus accounted for—on the same principle as the

Christian of the interior is more honest than he of Bayroot, so is the Ma-

homedan- of Bayroot honester than his Christian neighbour. The spirit of duplicity which characterises the Christians of Bayroot, they have learnt from.-their intercourse with foreigners. Not so the Mahomedan : he is re- served, and has no interchange of habits and customs with the European population of the plane; hence his honest predilections, remain intact, and

consequently are noticed to the disadvantage of the Christian. Take the Christian before Europeanism visited Bayroot, and he was as scrupulous and as honest as the Mahomedan. So is the Christian of the interior now. This is one of the evils which foreign. influence has wrought upon the land. It.

mustnot be supposed that every Western importation has benefited the country. By no means. While their being among us has taught us an idea of European habits and trade, we have included in that teaching some of their vices. But I am glad to say, that it is my conviction that missionary labour has been a great counteraction to more Western vices to which Euro- peans in Syria are addicted, but which we have not picked up : thus God in his wisdom is preserving the land. • * •

"Here let me say a word on Mahomedan benevolence. Really it is too good a virtue to be allowed to pass unnoticed. The Mahomedans are ex-

ceedingly charitable ; and, unless their religious prejudices are excited and their fanaticism called out, they are very kindhearted. Not only do they distribute money and food to the poor. on Friday at the doors of the mosques, but many of the Mahomeclan merchants keep open stores on that day to all the poor ; that is, the merchant orders one or two hundred loaves of bread and a large can of helawe, a sort of sweet much used by the natives, and which they eat with their bread. Nor are the Christian beggars exempt from that charity on account of their creed. No! let it be said, to the ever- larding credit of the Mahomedans that none are refused who choose to come and partake of the bounty offered."

There are a- good many illustrations of Scripture narratives from modern manners, and some pictures of the simple, kindly,

hospitable nature of the people, when removed from the corrupt- ing influences of foreigners and their civilization. These, how- ever, are too wiredrawn for quotation, and must be sought in the volumes : pity that we could not say volume—for one half of the work would be better than the whole.