North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-04-26


the family of Abraham in the interior OF china has
been certainly known for upwards OF two hundred
wears, and surmised much longer. Inc jesuit hicci
during his residence at Pekln In the beginning Of
the seventeenth century, was the means of exciting
the attention of foreigners the Jews OF kal-tung-
fu, the ancient capital of Ho-nan province; In 1915
they were visited by Aleni, follower OF ftcci ano
hundred years later, between 1904 and 1928, Fa-
theirs Gozani, Domenge, and Gaub, were enabled,
from personal investigation on the spot, TO give mln
descriptions of the people, their synagogue ana
sacred books, the latter of which few could even
then read, while the former was, with the peculiar
institutions of Moses fast falling TO decay. beyono
few feeble and ineffective efforts on the part OF bib
lica critics, nothing was subsequently attemp1ed 10
maintain communication with this hand full OF Jews,
until in 1915 some brethren in London addressed a
letter TO them in Hebrew, and offered large reward
if any would bring an answer In the same Ian
guage The letter was entrusted TO chinese DOCK
seller native of the province, who is reported TO
have delivered it, which doubted, he brought
no written answer
Recently the Jews Society in London, encouraged
by the munifcence of Miss Cook, who placed ample
funds at their disposal, instituted inquiries on the
subject and the cooperation OF The bishop OF
Victoria, who having previously opened cores
pondence with DR.. Medhurst the subject, during
his lordshp's recent visit to Shanghe, the plan of
operations was agreed upon. This was to despatch
two Chinese chrstia of them literary grad
uate, the other young man with competent knowl-
edge of English, acquired at the London Missionary
School. The North China Herald, of the 18th JAM
| from which gather the following particulars
The two emissares started the 18th Of Novem-
Der last, and after absence OF hy-hve days, re-
turned to SHAM hae, the distance between the two
cities being about six hundred miles, Arrived at
their destination, they found in the decayed city of
| ka-fung-fu both Mohamedans and Jews, the latter
poverty-stricken and degraded their synagogue in a
state of diapidaton, and the distinguishing symbols
of their religion nearly extinct. The books OF the
law. written in small square character sheepskin,
are, however, still preserved, although it would seem
for many years they have been seen by no one able
| TO read them.
! The Jesuis mention the existence of the sacred
books but not suffered to copy even to in
spec them but the Chinese christians encountered
such scruples; that, besides taking copies of
inscriptions the tablets, they enabled TO
| bring away eight Hebrew manuscripts, six of them
containing portions of the Old Testament, and two
| of the Hebrew liturgy. The correspondent of the
North China Herald states that
1.-The portions of Scripture from the 1st to the
9Th chapters of Exodus, from the 38th to the 4Oth
chapters of the same book, Leyiticus 18th and Goth
chapters, Numbers 18th, 18th and 18th chapters,
Deuteronomy from the tn to the 10th chapters, with
the 23d chapter OF that book. Various portions OF
the Pentateuch, Psalms, and Hagographa occur in
the books of prayers, which have not yet been def
initey fixed. The character in which these portions
are written is an antique form of the Hebrew, with
points, They are written on thick paper, evidently
by ola stylaus, and the material employed, as
well the silk in which the books bound, exhib-
it marks of foreign origin. Two Israelish gen.
tlemen, to whom they have been shown in Shanghe,
say that they have such books in Alden and the
occrrence here and there of Persian words, written
with Hebrew letters, in the notes appended seem TO
indicate that the books in question came originally
from the part of Asia, perhaps Persia or Ara
ba. There is trace whatever of the Chinese char
about them, and they must have been manufac-
Iured entirely by fore residing in China or who
have come from a foreign country. Regarding their
age it would be difficult to hazard CON
The result of this mission has been such that it
be doubted another will be sent, and trust
the attempt at least will be made by some discreet
foreigner-a Jew, at all events Hebrew scholar
penetrate to Kai-fungfu; for although the proofs
brought away the present occasion are so far sat-
sacory, yet in the account given, on the authority
of the Chinese emissaries, presume there sew
eral things that might otherwise excite incredibly.
Ka-fnng-fu, according to Wiiams's map, is sit
uated about league from the southern bank of the
Hwang-ho, Yellow river, in 4.55 north latitude
and 1l4.40 east longitude.
The Jesuts stale expressly that the Hebrew was
without points.
Hong Kong China Overland Mail