The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-03-01
To be continued.
From the N. Y. Tribune.
A REVIEW.

A residenes Of Eight ysars in Persia. among the
NestOrian Christiansj with nofies Of the Mrhan-
medans. By Req. Justin Perkins. With Nap
and Plates. Andoper; Allen, Morrill, & Ward
yell. Ntw York: N. w. DOdd.
We have found this most interesting
and valuable book Protesting TO give, in
the simple language of plain narration,
merely the experience Of Missionary Of
the Cross dwelling for TWO or three years
among a remote and unknown people ac-
curing their language, cutivating their &C.
quainiance, encounterIng their prejudice.
submitting 10 oil the privations and hard
ships of this self denying life. the author
has extended his range Of observations; and
though, as hi says, his object and labors
have been strictly Missionary. be has sought
to combine miscellany and incident with ac-
curate religious and general information
He has presented thus a work Of decided
worth, not only 10 those who are mainly
concerned in the Progress and Prosperity
of the Missionary efforts there recently or
ganized, but 10 all vino feel any interest in
the history and condition Of q small but
venerable people, hitherto. obscure, but
likely hereafter to receive attention from
men of learning and piety throug bout the
world.
1t is only within a few years that the
HISTORIANS have attracted any considerable
notice from Christian nations. As nearly
as can be ascertained they are in number
about 100000, dwelling principally among
the mountains of Koordistan an in Oroomi-
ali, in the Western part of Persia. Those
inhabitng the mountains are rude, wild,
bold and quarrelsome, miserabIy poor, sub
sisting chiefly BY pasturage and maintain
ing themselves with difficulty against the
violent assaults ofthe surrounding Koords.
The district of Oroomah is the Northwest
ern province of Persia, magnificent plain,
some forty miles in length and twenty wide.
amply watered, with fertile soil all well
! cultivated and producing wheat, cotton. rice
and the various fruits ofthe temperate zone
in luxurious abundance, enclosed on all
sides by the imposing branches ofthe koor-
dish mountains, which, al Ills extremities,
sweep downwards TO Tie lake which skirts
Il its Eastern side. Upon this great plain are
built about three hundred and thirty villages,
MANY of them exclusively occupied by Mes.
torians, and others inhabited by them in
common with Muhammedans. who mainly
own the soil. and keep the HISTORIAN Chris.
tians in ignoble, though not often cruel,
bondage. Tie view from the elevation
back Of the city of Oroomiah, over the plain,
studded with its villages, ver,lan: with thou
sands of orchards and fruit trees, and gleam-
ing with illimitable fields waving golden
! harvest, and farther still over the azure bo-
som Of the placid lake, beaming and spark
ling under the brilliancy of the pure Persian
sky, is represented by Mr.. Perkins as one
of the most lovely and beautiful upon
which the eye of man has ever gazed.--
F; Naturally, the climate is one of the finest in
the world, though artificial causes, such as
staanant pools of water and the constant ir-
rieo,ion of its fields, made necessary by the
lack of frequent showers, have rendered ii
unhealthy, especially 10 those from other
lands.
| Dwelling upon this plain, the Serfs Of the
Muhammedans by whom they are surroun.
ded, having in the midst Of their principal
cities some two thousand Jews. this singular
! people preserve a distinct existence as o
separate tribe, resisting firmly, even 10 sla.
very and death, oil attempt, 10 impose upon