The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-10-24
THE HISTORIAN CHRISTIANS.

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brought by the last steamer. This inter-
esting people, who have latlerly been visit
ted and instructed by American and other
missionaries, were found to have retained
the religion OF the Bible in a great degree
of purity, although surrounded by Maho-
netan tribes. Ii seems that the hostility
of their enemies was excited towards them
by the too jealous labors OF the rival Chris
tan missionaries. The following state
ment is from an English paper:
"Massacre of the Aesiorian Christians.
The expedition of the Pasha OF Mosul
against the Mountuin HISTORIANS has been
attended with the most deplorable success,
end that success attained, as was TO be ex-
pected, from the cooperation OF his saw
age auxiiaries, the kuIds, with every sort
Of atroci,y. The houses of the wretched
inhabitants were fired, and they themselves
hunted down like wild beasts and exlermi.
mated. Neither sex nor age met with ia
vor OF mercy; the mother, brothers, and
sisters of the Patriarch were the objects
of peculiar barbari,y-lhe former having
been literally sawed in two, and the latter
most shockingly mangled and mutlated.
The Patriarch himself succeeded in efiec-
ting his escape, and has taken refuge in
the house Of the British consular agent at
Mosul. The number Of victims who have
persisted in this massacre is not yet known.
The population Of the mountains amount
ed to 100000. Their fate has been truly
lameniable and extraordinary. Surround
ed by Mussuiman hordcs, pent up for ages
in their native Businesses, the very exis-
fence of these children Of the primitive
church bad remained almost a secret 10
the rest of Christendom. Happy for them,
indeed, had il continued so, for their OBJ
security seems to have been their best pro-
lection. No sooner had their country been
explored by missionaries, aud the interest
Of learned and scientific men been ava
kened with respect to them, than this ter
rible visitation befell them and the pub
lie is called upon TO sympaihIze with them
in their destruction before, perhaps, 1t had
become generally aware of their existence.
Letters from Mosul throw much of the
odium Of this sad affair upon the Europe
ans. Il was the impfudent zeal Of rival
missionaries that first excited tho Jealous
apprehensions OF The Pasha of Mosul, and
caused him 10 +" lie, slip the dogs Of war !"
on the unfortunate HISTORIANS. IL is at.
frmed, even, that some Of these gentlemen,
with view of prejudicing his mind against
the American missionaries, suggested 10
him that they were assisting the noun
talneers TO raise forts, whereby they would
be hereafter enabled 10 set the Sulan's au-
thority at defiance. These reports we're
altogether uniounded; their consequences,
however, have been dreadful; such, in
decd, as could never have been conlempla.
ted BY the inventors Of them, who have,
nevertheless, brought m awful response
bility upon themselves"
A Constau;.nople correspondent Of the
London Morning Chronicle, Under date Of
August II, states the particulars more at
large, as follows:
4" You have been informed OF the com.
bination between the Pasha of Mosul and
several powerful Kurdish chiefs for the
determination Of the HISTORIAN Christians,
or Chaldeans. Letters received the day
before Yesterday contain dcploruble ac-
count Of the results Of the attacks Of the
united troops. They had penetrated into
the centre Of the Tiyaree districi, burnt
the villages and churches, destroyed the
crops, aud put the inhabitants Of both sex.
es to the sword. Three, or according to
other accounts five, brothers Of the Patri-
arch have been slain, bis mother was cut
in half, and his sister horribly mutla,cd.
The Patriarch himself had fed to Mosul,
and taken refuge in the British vice con-
sulate. Thus a sect which had preserved
its independence during centuries, and had
resisted the prosecuting sword Of Islam
when welded by the most powerful and
most intolerani Of the followers Of Mahom.
med-whlch, in its simplicity and isola.
ton, had maintained the doctrines and
forms Of primitive church for above
fourteen centuries, and which had escaped
the corruption Of religion, Of morals, and
Of character SO conspicuous in all other
Christian sects Of the East-has now, in
the weakness Of Mahommcdanism and in
the strength of European Christianity,
been delivered over TO destruction.
Although the Turkish authorities me-
rit the strongest condemnation for the part
they have taken 10 the massacre, yet there
are others concerned who are almost G.
qualIy responsible for the results. The
history of the fall Of the HISTORIANS is a
new example Of The Consequences of sys.
tenn pursued by foreigners in the East
which we cannot contemplate without the
utmos, Indignation. AN those who have
been the direct instruments Of their de.
s;ruction, although they may not have an.
ticipated a result Of so serious nature TO
their iptrignes, and although they may
now shelter themselves under the cloak Of
religion, have been guilty Of great crime
against humanity.
In their mountain Businesses the Mes