Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-05-19


shown by the Druse Arabs. South of Damascu,
some few Druses fed into "a volcanic region; and
there lbrahim Pacha with 10000 men, besiegcd the
ior months without subduing them; and man
for long time defended dsfle against four hun
bred
And, then, there is much to admire in the stern
ness, patience, and endurance of character Gf the
Arao. lie would rather die than dig till the soil
Although have been so much among them know
not how they live. An Arab will start out in morn
ing on long journey with few pounds of meal and
fhe find not food, when that is gone he will endure
hunger and thirst and the severest privaton rather
than to complain. Their sternness Of character and
powers oil endurance surpass comprehension. And
oh, then what sufferers for Christs sake and what
admirable martyrs they would make. Whist excel
lent missionaries they would te, and hsw oil adapt.
Turk.
The Arabs are besides very talented race. Ihavs
examined all their books of science, mathematics
&C., and IT Is carious to see hsw they have sta ted
from points totally opposite To our scientific land
marks and yet have arrived at pre- csely as
results. Again, there is Algebra, which owes il, or
ign tn them; it's name is Arabic In astronomy
they are proficient and have corrected the calcula
tions maze at Cairo and Damascus. The bright
stars of Saurus and those in the belt Of Orion, are
named IN Arabic and by Arabs. In philosophy they
often reason more accurately than the NEST civilized
nations OF Europe They generally tel! all the facts
OF the case insist on NO dogmatic infereAces, but
leave you 10 judge conclusivelv for uu'selves
Their history is like the Hebrews, full of romance
and chvalry, and high and lofty achievements
Their poetry is like ascending from earth 10 heaven
the soul OF sublimity and for the bodness of its
metaphors, the beauty of its rythm, the briancy OF
lts language, cannot be surpassed. In literature
they excel all other nations, for there is ne country
which possesses so many different books in the ma
tive tongue, and a learned German is now publish-
ing work, in nine large volumes, which contains
only the names OF the titles of native Arab books.
we love our language, and think very highly of
ITS beauty, and force, and finish. But it sinks into
insignicance before the beauty and force and finish
OF the Arab tongue. The latter nicely adjusted
IN all Its parts, like the frame of buildlsg every
mortlce is fitted to every tenor; and our language,
as compared with the Arab, is little better than
Pdtots is, besides, the language Of the Turk Of
the Malay, OF the Tartar the East Indian the Chi
nese.
Again, the Arabs are not at all disposed to inf
delty w hen Nr. White went to Armenia con.
WINGED him that the Armenians were not Infidels.
Their neighbours, the Greeks, grow up and go over
to inhdelity; but the Armenians do not. And you
cannot insult an Arab more, than by calling him an
infdel In their religious state they are supposed
to be all Mahommedans, and believers OF Maho-
met. But the Bedouins now very ignorant in
religion; the Redouin scarce knows any thing ofhis
religion; and, though there is penalty for those
who do not say prayers five times day, scarcely
one in a hundred knows enough to say his prayers.
In Mesapotamia, there are nearly go, 000 who are
called Mahommedans, but who regarded as abb
rogated; and the majority still nominal Christ
iaRs.
such are the leading features of this most inter
esting race And the great question is, in what
M
Me hemet Ali. and the Egyp ian Government. We
have two missions in Egypt. aud the English have
one; and so far they have neen successful. Ia an
instance in particular they were so. The Pacba
pressing all the youth Of the country into his
army our missionaries asked him to give pass Of
fety 10 the youth in schools. He said he could
not formally do 1T. Our teachers took the hint gave
each boy pass, and none were noested.
Besides, the Egy ptian government is powerful
and widely extended one, from Africa to the Persian
Gulf j should be glad to speak, with hope Of sue
a. -. a - II
vicinity; but cannot But on the Southern shores
of Arabs between the Arab and Persian Gulf, and
in Africa, south Of the Equator, for hundreds Of
miles we have the territory ofthe Sultan of Musar.
who has always been very friendly to missionaries.
He is wise, brave, powerful and intelligent native
Arab Prince; and at Ian iebar, where he resides
than half his time, missionaries hav ere
ccived three times much honor and attention as
ever was paid To the commodores Of the navy; and
he has always extended us his protection through
out the whole extent Of his dominion which have
jus; stated, but also over Territory OF forty days
Joyrney in Africa Bot, after all, the great point
dappui rs Syria. A missionary rsised up there, \
where Pasl raised up. would travel ia ther than
Paul travelled, and still speak to every in
his tongue The great question, then, will be-,
what are the Turas doing there, or what are we
doing among them. We have had n mission there
fifteen years. left four brothers in the Lord la
boring there, and the English have two. And this
wosld make us ask, are the Churches in earnest m
this work, to send few and do solite that those
that labor soon wear themselves oat, and sicken
and die, Tor lack ~ helpI
In closing, must paw tribute 10 cf my own
mis- lion who has died there She invited there
b sister in Christ, and the next ship that sailed
thiher, bore her 10 the field of those lshors where
hi sister endured great hardshps; she shared, and
she NIX under them, aud has gone TO her rest Still
ye do not complain. But let us ask "a there piety
en~ugh to carry the Of missions1 There are
such loud calls for aelp and yet you pinch
ing our m eans so that We cannot ga on and live. I
wish not To sound discordant note; but pray them
10 labor than they have done and to give more
thaa they have done, and under god; success will
crswn all their ex rtioHs.
The Rev. Mr.. Meigs (missionary from Ceylon)
then (He is tall, thin, bony man. with thin,
sharp, intellectual features, a benevolent express
withal amiable and interesting man, and speaks
by short, ftful sentences; his health having been
impaired by climste.)
He said, 1 have been constantly teaching the
gospel for 25 years to the heather. / saw my dear
native land for the frs, time only two days ago for
25 years; and had 1 consulted my own feelings,
should not have saida word. But as am and have
may hear the Macedonian cry, and give the
cessary help.
Judge Of my feelings, m ay dear friends, when ar
irving st my dear native land afterso long an absence
and meeting with the associates Of my childhood,
and the friends Of my early youth. And coming
in the steamboat from Philadelphia, the only soul
knew was old gentleman, who came up To me
and said, Sir, you scarcely remember me; Is
wears have made great change in both OF Us but
| went down on board the Driad. % wears ago, and
joined with old DIR. Spring and the rest in singing
the Old Hundred, when you went to Ceylon, and
in recommending you and your eanse to Ged.
feel for all MISSIONS but particularly in relation
mission. Hut these will apply to all missions. We
ha nat mi r in M r Wi ma