6 FEBRUARY 1841, Page 16

SPECTATOR'S LIBRARY.

Taavrt.s, The Remnant Found ; or the Place of Ismel's Hiding Discovered; being a Summary of Proofs, showing that the Jews of Daghistan on the Caspian Sea are the Rem- nant of the Ten Tribes. The result of personal investigation during a missionary tour of eight mouths in Georgia. by permission of the Russian Government. in the years 1837 and 1838. By the Rev. Jacob Samuel, Senior Missionary to the Jews

for India. Persia. and Arabia Hat chard. Egypt and Mohammed Ali. Illustrative of the Condition of his Slaves and Subjects. &c. &c. By R. R. Madden, M.D.. Author of Twelve Months' Residence in the West Indies," &c. &c. Hamilton and Co. Pitmen.

The Thirst for Gold. By Hannah D. Burden, Author of " Seymour of Smiley," &c. In 3 vols. Boone.

THE REMNANT FOUND.

Tars is a curious volume on a curious question—" What has be- come of the Ten Tribes of Israel" ? The author is not a mere theory-spinner, but a person well qualified to discuss the subject. He is an Israelite of " the race of Aaron," versed in all the rites and customs of the Hebrews, as well as in their learning. He is also a convert to Christianity ; superadding an acquaintance with the New Testament, and the proverbial zeal of a proselyte, to the strong and deep spiritual feelings of the religious Jew. In addition to these peculiarities of his nature, he has possessed great advan- tage in his circumstances. Having been employed as a missionary to the Asiatic Jews, he has visited India, Persia, and the circum- jacent places, in search of the scattered seed of Abraham observ- ing their peculiarities as a Jew and an antiquarian, whilst he en- deavoured to convert them to the Christian faith.

These circumstances have given raciness and character to Mr. SAMUEL'S views, and if not more truth to his conclusions than to those of other inquirers after the Lost Tribes, yet much greater reality. He tests his speculations by a practical knowledge of those observances that distinguish the genuine from the spurious Hebrew ; and, unlike some speculators on the subject, he bases his opinion upon original observations of actual life, as he saw it in his journeyings. Hence his book contains characteristic descriptions of remote people, and curious particulars of Jewish practices, as well as speculative disquisitions—the traveller, the Rabbi, the theorist in conjunction. In our notice of The Remnant Found, we will endeavour to convey an idea of the object sought ; and to furnish some example of the light Mr. SAMUEL has thrown upon certain tribes of Asiatic Jews.

When upon the death of Solomon the Ten Tribes revolted from his son Rehoboam, the Jewish splendour began to wane. After a period of internal discord and foreign wars, the kingdom of Israel, founded by the revolters, was destroyed, and its people car- ried away ; to be followed, some generations later, by the conquest of Jerusalem and the captivity of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The latter captives were permitted to return by the decree of Cyrus, and Jerusalem with its temple rose again : but there was no return for the Ten Tribes, carried off, according to Mr. SAMUEL, by " three deportations, strictly speaking."

" First—Of the two and a half tribes, on the other side of Jordan, by Pul and Tilgath-pilneser.

" Second—Of the bulk of the seven and a half tribes, by Shalmaneser. " Third—Of the remains of the latter, by Esarbaddon, who swept the land of even the poor lingerers on the mountains of Israel ; so that Israel could not by any means become a people, but remained broken as a nation and broken as a people too."

" What has become of them ?" is the question that has often been asked, but never answered. JOSEPHUS said, that in his day the main body of the Ten Tribes remained "beyond the Euphrates in Media." Sir WILLIAM JONES and others have identified them in the Affghans ; Dr. BUCHANAN in the black and white Jews of Bombay and Cochin ; BRUCE discovered them in Abyssinia; several writers have tracked them across the continent of Asia and Behring's Straits to America, where time and travel, they say, has turned them into Red Indians ; and amongst the various dignified pedigrees of the Hibernians, writers have not been wanting to maintain that the seat of the Lost Tribes was to be found in the Emerald Isle.* Mr. SAMUEL flatters himself that he has discovered their "Remnant"—all that we are justified by prophecy in looking for—amongst the tribes of Daghistan ; a wild, mountainous, and almost inaccessible region, running inward from the South-western coast of the Caspian, and bordering upon the ancient Media, formerly a nominal dependency of Persia, and now nominally sub- ject to Russia.

The facts and reasons Mr. SAMUEL adduces seem to esta- blish this point, that a " remnant" of Jews of a very pecu- liar kind are settled round the shores of the Caspian. Of this "remnant" some are scattered in a state of slavery, and very ignorant ; some free, and a little more advanced; but the Jews of Daghistan proper seem genuine and unadulterate. Taking the facts of Mr. SAMUEL as they stand, this " remnant" follows very strictly the Mosaic law, uncorrupted by the Talmud; and certain of their practices appear patriarchal: whence the author infers, that upon some points Moses only confirmed what he found existing. His conclusion also seems highly probable, that this tribe is a part of those Israelites who were carried away captive into Media. Even a people so stubborn as the Jews in clinging to their own observ- ances, could not resist the force of circumstances when seated in a country which has lain open to the traffic of merchants and the devastations of conquerors for nearly three thousand years. Time and trade alone work changes, especially where dynasties change " The reader may remember Mooaz's Melody, "Yes, sad one of Sion, i closely resembling."

quickly ; but the inroads of Alexander, the Romans, Zengis Khan, and Tamerlane, to say nothing of Mahometan enthusiasts, or con- querors on a small scale, must have contributed to scatter and destroy, if they could not change, the seceders from the house of David. In the remote fastnesses of the Caucasian range, a " rem- nant" of Israel might probably take refuge, and preserve their original customs with that tenacity which belongs alike to Jews and mountaineers. Yet even they could not altogether escape the cruel ambition of conquerors. In the last century, Nadir Shah invaded the country, and forced many to embrace the MahOmetan religion,—a strange course for a sceptic like himself; and our author infers that had Daghistan been examined before that inva- sion, a closer resemblance would have been discovered than even now exists.

The circumstance which enabled Mr. SAMUEL to effect this discovery was a call which he made when at Tehran, upon Graf SIMONIECH, the Russian Ambassador,—the same, we suppose, who was afterwards disavowed for his intrigues against the British, and who certainly seems to have somewhat exceeded his authority in the permission he granted to Mr. SAMUEL for the sake of the Ten Tribes.

" In conversation with the Ambassador concerning one of the objects of my mission, his Excellency informed me, that about five years previously, the Russian Government had sent a commission into Georgia, to investigate tics character and circumstances of the Caucasian Jews. The individuals sent re- turned without being able to give any satisfactory account of the object they were sent to inquire into; their qualifications not being such as to enable them to throw any light on a question of this character. His Excellency, perceiving my ardent curiosity and interest in what relates to the Jewish people, and in particular as to any facts which might illustrate the fate of the long-lost tribes, spontaneously offered me every assistance in his power, if I would undertake to follow up these inquiries ; laying no other obligation upon me than to furnish him with a copy of my journal when I should publish it, containing investiga- tions through the East on this important subject. " Having consulted her Britannic Majesty's Minister at the court of Persia, and obtained his sanction, I received from him a letter of protection, on which I could depend, in the critical circumstances of the country at that time. Th. Anglo-Indian army was preparing to march towards Cabul, and all individuals in connexion with England were under strong suspicion. This letter of pro- tection was of the utmost importance, as it enabled me to resist and overcome the intrigues and repugnance of the Russian Government of the Trans-Cauca- sian provinces at my presence during the military operations against Khiva at this crisis. And I shall not soon forget the impressions left upon me at Tiflis, after I entered upon my investigations, when summoned before the Governor- General of those provinces. Every effort was made to daunt my courage by an array of military, (consisting of Cossacks and gensd'armerie,) drawn up in front of the palace; the object of which was to expel me from the country, or to induce me to retire. I was enabled, however, in the strength imparted b me at that trying hour, to maintain an independence of spirit I trust not un- becoming a British subject, and to read such a lesson to General Radifinickis (son of the celebrated diplomatist,) in the presence of the Russo-Georgian court, which he will not easily forget. What a state of things is that which owes its support wholly to bristling bayonets; where such a system of ramified espionage exists, that the very wife is an emissary to report the actions and opinions of her husband to an ever-suspicious and jealous government

" His Excellency (Graf Simoniech) furnished me with letters to the Go- vernor-General, Baron Rosa, General Brechoft, Commander-in-Chief of Georgia, and Civil Governor Palawandeof. All these letters, though of im- portance, weighed as nothing beside the simple pass of the British Ambassador."

Having overcome these obstacles, our author at last succeeded in reaching Daghistan ; his description of which is so graphic, and his picture of the power of Russia in those mountainous regions so striking, that we quote it.

" Daghistan, on the West coast of the Caspian Sea, lies between the rivers Koisin and Rubes. It is about one hundred and thirty-four miles in length, by between thirty and forty in breadth. It is almost entirely mountainous, as its name, Daghistan, implies; the plain that runs along the shore being a narrow strip. It is usually divided into the following small states—namely, Lesgestan, Schamgal, the kbanship of Derbund, and the domain of Tabasseran. Lesges- tan is a stupendous range of mountains running in a South-easterly direction, of great length, but of inconsiderable breadth, and forming the whole North- east frontier of Georgia. The inhabitants are a wild savage banditti, divided into different tribes, whose habitations are secluded in the depths of the moms tains, on the loftiest summits, or on the most frightful precipices. The coun- try is rugged and impracticable ; the sail is scanty ; and the level ground being insufficient to enable the proprietor to raise the means of subsistence, he in- creases the surface to the very summit of the heights by graduated terraces. These rude tribes of the mountains are the terror and scourge of all the neigh- bouring countries, as they sally down from the mountains, laying waste vil- lages, and carrying off or murdering the inhabitants. The other districts are of the same mountainous character: that of Tabasseran is covered with wood; but the sallies are beautiful and fertile. The greater part of the country is still terra incognita to the traveller, especially the region indicated as the abode of the Remnant in question."

CAUCASIAN POWER OF RUSSIA.

The Russians, as I remarked before, have contracted the limits of the inde- pendent tribes between the Euxine and the Caspian; and, according to the working of that colossal and dangerous power, have largely succeeded in doing so. But to reduce them to real subjection is beyond the power even of Russia. Nearly half the country of the Alkhar is marked as subject to Russia on the maps of these provinces ; but, in fact, the garrison of Sookoom-kuluah live as in a besieged city, and their authority is acknowledged no further than their guns can reach. Swaueti, too, has the same mark of subjection ; though it is well known that the Swani confine themselves to the neighbourhood of the perpetual snows of Elburg, in order not to compromise their liberty. Two passes also, through the mountain, are marked as Russian soil; but not even the weekly mail is sent through that of Dariel without an escort, amounting sometimes to a hundred soldiers, two field-pieces, and several Cossacks. if as occasional traveller wishes to try the pass of Derbund, which is in Daghistan, he is not considered safe without a similar guard.

The proofs by which our author identifies the Jews inhabiting this country as pure Jews, are accumulative and minute; depend- ing. upon slight differences in rites and practices, whose difference is indeed palpable, but whose full force is more impressive to a Jew than a Christian. We may, however, note three points. They alone, of all the Jews Mr. SAMUEL is =Tainted with, actually sacrifice the pascal lamb—the others oftei substitute for

it meat roasted in a peculiar way ; they practice the ancient mode of circumcision, not that which has obtained since the days of the Maccabees; and they keep the Sabbath strictly and lite- rally, not kindling a fire or a light-

" They remain in the coldest and darkest weather without these ; and have no recourse, as other Jews, to the services of Gentiles to supply them with these, preserving in their own persons the letter, and destroying through strangers the spirit of the law. It is remarkable, that as they are quite igno- rant of the oral law and traditions followed by the Jews elsewhere, and which enumerates thirty-nine different species of occupations, from which they con- sider themselves prohibited, (vide Talmud, Sabbath, or Treatise, folio 73,) the Jews of Daghistan observe all these prohibitions except the last. This last is called Ian117 or 31+37; which is a reservation of a permission to carry loads from one house to another on the Sabbath-day. It is allowed by the following ceremony, practised by the Jews, being observed. A cake, which is called arry, is consecrated and suspended in the synagogue. A string or rope is extended from each corner of a street where Jews live; and this is deemed to constitute those embraced within the extremities of the 311137 one family ; thereby evading the penalty resulting from the prohibitory injunction.

"If we refer to the prophet Jeremiah, (xvii. 21-27,) we find this is in direct opposition to the word of Jehovah= Thus saith the Lord, Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath-day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem ; neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath-day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the Sabbath-day, as I commanded your fathers.' Thus, in this important respect, the Jews of Daghistan preserve the institution according to its appointment before the prophet in question was commanded to reprove the Jewish people for infrin- ging thus its sanctification, which was after the captivity of the Lost Tribes. "They further differ from the Talmudists in the following observances. The Jews throughout the world abstain from those duties which necessity and mercy justify, such as feeding cattle, milking, &c. " The day is to them a day of rest, and peace, and cheerfulness; they dance, sing, and play on instruments. These are of a religious nature, expressive of religious emotions; but are expressly forbidden by the oral law or Talmud. They spend the forenoon of the Sabbath in the way described in the following scriptures, which serve to illustrate their religious habits on that day better than any description of mine. See Exodus; also 2 Samuel vi. 15; Psalm lxviii. 25,26 ; exile. 3 ; cl. 4.

"The afternoon is spent in a very profitable way, quite unlike the Jews elsewhere. They resort to the dwellings of their elders and of religious men, who sit in their places of abode to receive the visits of those who come to them, and instruct them in the doctrines of their scriptures, and make allegories of the law of Moses. This custom of resorting to holy men on the Sabbath-day is a very ancient one ; as may be gathered from 2 Kings iv. 23, practised long before the great captivities. They surround these good men until sunset, who pronounce the Sabbath to be ended; the women kiss the hem of their gar- ments, and the men the hands of the elders."

THE SCRIPTURES OF TILE JEWS OF DAC IIISTAN.

They are in possession of a few manuscript copies of the law of Moses ; which are divided into five books like ours, which they call the Book of the Cove- nant, rro 1BD, according to Exodus xxiv. 7. They are written in the origi- nal Hebrew character, without any division of chapters, sentences, or points ; which manuscripts they hold to be very ancient, and would not part with them on any account. No man under thirty years of age is permitted to read them ; and 1 have been told by the individual whom I sent expressly for the purpose cif examining them, that their copies do not ".lifkr from the Hebrew copies ii1 our possession, except in two places,—namely, in the book of Deut. ch. ixxiii., where the last blessing of Moses places Judah after Reuben in our copies, and Simeon is omitted altogether, whilst in their copies Simeon and Levi are placed together, as is the blessing of Jacob in Gen. xlix. 2d. The last chapter of Deuteronomy is omitted altogether, and the hook concludes with the pro- phetic blessing, "Happy art thou, 0 Israel: who is like unto thee, 0 people, saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and Who is the sword of thy excel- lency : and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee, and thou shalt tread upon their high places."

From this it appears that they are in possession of the original text of the book of the law of Moses ; for it is certain that the last chapter of Deuteronomy was added after the death of Moses. *

They are not in possession of M4,31,Mstl Cr144,21 the first prophets, which consist of Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel, 1 Kings and 2 Kings, and the last prophets, 01,111112.4 CM12), Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the minor prophets. They have not izniriz, the Psalms, Proverbs, Job, R uth, the Song of Solo- mon, Ecclesiastes, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and the two Books of Chronicles ; but are in possession of a part of the Book of Esther.

They are in entire ignomnce with the rest of their brethren elsewhere, of the existence of the Apocryphal Books.

They are very anxious to get the Psalms of David; and so ignorant are they i of the New Testament, that in the year 1837-3, when two of the Jews from Andrewa visited me and saw the volume, they put it three times to their fore- head and three times to their mouth, and. issed it. I sold forty-six New Tes- taments for a high price. They are free lion] the hatred and superstitions of their brethren towards Christianity.