Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-05-27

by climate, ana speaks In clear, agreeable and
assuming tone of voice. He said, this is a great
work a work Of labor and love,-and the love
and prayers of all christians were required to carry
it In selecting subject for illustrating its i'm
| portance, l have followed my own views. | have
found that all nations have distinctive marks that are
well defined, and highly interesting And among all
the nations have met with, the Arab is nay IA
vorte. And perhaps it is necessary to ask at this
point, who are the Arabs Those who have exer-
cised control for several centuries the coun-
tries where we have been stationed, have usually
been called Turks. All the travellers through Sy-
ria, the Holy Land, MesopotamIa, Armenia, &c.
generally speak of them as Turks. But the Turks,
properly so called. a northern ; they came
originally from northern Tartary and the districts
north OF the Caspian Sea, and are distinct race
from the Arabs The Arabs, before the time of Ma
homet, were confined to Arabia; they were part of
the Hebrew nation, and form the most interesting
part Of the history Of that nation. And they inter-
est christians, and partic uarly missionaries be-
cause they still occupy the place assigned to them
in the prophecies of the Scripture.
consider 1t felicity TO be called to labor among a
people who set forth in prophecy sand where it
Is foretold that We shall triumph in obtaining their
redemption. when MasOmet arose, he called forth
all the peculiar enthusiasm Of that race which the
pc sess in an eminent degree. They rested not until
they half Of the old world. To the east they
crossed Syria, Persia, Northern India, to the Oxus
where the characterstics o. their still remain
To henoTh they rushed through Asia Minor, crossed
the Dardanelles, aid laid Siege to Constantinope.
In the east they subdued Egypt, and all northern
Africa to the straits OF Gibraltar. crossed there, sub
dued Spain, the Pyrennees and set up their
frontier forts in Southern France.
OF all these cOnquests what remain ! Beyond the
Oxus we hear of none, except few scattered here
and there. From the north they have passed back
into Asia Minor In Spain there is little left of this
brave race, except in their commingling with the
Spanish blood. In Africa they still exist a great
people, and occupy all the north of it from the
IRENE east to the extreme west Such is the extent
and situation of the race with whom sojOurn, for
whose salvation labOur, and for whom plead For
in Sv hen in hay taxp On MIA
and caused some changes, though they left, III
respects different people, they were all of the
Arab race; and are now mingled in one feeling and
Of one tongue.
The Arabs comprise two distinct classes; the ira
yelling Arab and the resident Arab. The former is
theBedoun of the desert and the latter the Hoolaeen
Arab, who lives by agriculture. The Bedouin
will cultivate the soil He is OF the original Arab
stock-a wanderer. He possesses all the character
istics OF the original race. lie is of the Arab nOb
ity; poor, but proud; and can trace his geneaiogy
back purer and farther through line Of Arab Aobili-
ty than the princes and mobiles Of Europe And
no potenta'e of any part of the world ever
rronder, carefal weld intermarriage with
plebean, than Is the Bedouin Arab
He is generally free the chainless wind ia all
his movements He scorns the government Of any
nation, and although you may still the black
tents ofthe Arab scattered about the hills of Mount
Lebanon, and on the borders Of the Euxine and Cas-
plan seas, still he detests the control Of the Turk
ami hates the Russian and on the least attempt TO
curb him he flies to the desert, and luxuriates in
poverty and freedom
The other class OF Arabs cultivate the soil, and
many Of their original characteristics disappear
They also employed in trade, and subject to
others, IN Mesopotamia, Turkey, Syria, and I'm.
der the government Of Mehemet Ali. In the extreme
West there several dependent tribes OF Arabs
in the South, they an independent people un-
der the Sultan Of Muscat and other active princes.
Is il then, let us ask, OF no consequence whether
the Eations whom go TO convert possess
ed of strong National, and mental charac riscs,
are sensual sunk, degraded and depraved9 1t is ef
great importance to the labours OF the Missionary
for we must depend mainly upon native agency and
train up native agents if to the hea
then to the of Christ; and if they intelli
gent we may expect great success.
There is one trait possessed by the Arab, which
is most valaabe-itis nice sense Of honour. There
still good and bad among them, but they all have
a high sense of honorable obligations. Aaother
feature is, their universal hospitality. This has
Down from old TO them. In their lofty poetry,
which is more exalted in its character than that Of
any other nation. they laud and exo that Arab who
consumes his substance To entertain strangers; and
the Arab has greater boast than that the lire of
his hearth never goes out, but is always burning TO
cook food for the stranger, his guest. Dism unt
from your nurse in the desert, and enter the Arabs
tent, and he will entertain you as Abraham did OF
old, i'm with the calf, but with milk and butter,
and the best he has, and wait you till you
freshed. For to be &c Dnomica, is With the Arabs,
the height Of meanness
Again, a good trait is the sacred character Of his
guest. Some few are treachereus; but IL YOU want
10 pass alone through he deserts Of Arabia there is
dificulty;a friendly Arab will p'ssyou on to an
other tribe and you passed from tribe 10 tribe
from the Black Sea 90 the Arabian Gulf; and when
Mr.. Ro inson and myself were at Jerusalem and
wished to 60 to certain parts OF Syria, friendly
Arab brought us Arab whose taSny skin and dark
bushy beard square turned joints and strength Of linn
showed him Of peace; he was the chief VI the
robbers Of that region and yet he conducted us safe
to our destination, and brought us back unframed.
The Arab never sheds blood II he avoid IT, IL
is his Independence, aad his determination never TO
give himself up to any government that sometimes
make kill his opposer- This personal indepen-
dence is possessed by all and n blood be shed IL be.
longs to his nearest relative 10 avenge. This beau
tul feeling Of personal Independence of character Is
possessed BY the mental servants, who stani up and
raise their voice in the presence of their masters like
the Of republicans in their fathers halls This
ndepe ndcnce was shewn when the Bishop OF Buy
roat threatened TO excommunicate those Arabs who
came To hear preach. On the Sunday alter he
issued his edict our chapel was fuller than ever
And, see them still measuring heir strength with,
and van ,uishing the chiefs OF the once proud and
powerful Turkish empire And again, sec, IN the
west. how difficult il is for the French to subdue
that bravest Of all brave Arabs, Abd-el kadcr
Another proof OF their independence and bravery
shown by the Druse Arabs. South Of Damascus
some few Druses fed iuto volcanic region; and
there Ihrahim Pacha with 10000 men, besieged them
for moaths without subluing them; and man
Tor a long time defended deile against for hun
dred.
And then, there is much IN admire in the stern
mesa. patiepce, aud endurance ef character q the
Arab. He would rather die than dig till the soil
Although 1 have been so much among them know
not how they live. An Arab will start out In morn
ing on long Journey with a few pounds Of meal and
IL he find not food, when that is gone he will endure
hunger and thirst and the severcst priyation rather
than to comnain Their sternness of cha cter and