The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-05-04
Samaritans-Pe Pentateuch-The Liv:
ing Evidences of the Bible.

Samarltans-Pentateuch-The Liv:
ing Evidences Of the Bible.
In letter descriptive Of the hill country
OF Palestine, Bayard Taylor thus speaks
of the ancient Samaritans and the Samari.
tan Pentateuch:
Nablons is noted for the existence Of a
small remnant Of the ancient Samaritans.
The stock has gradually dwindled away,
and amounts to only 40 families, contain
ing little more than $50 individuals. They
live in peculiar quarter of the city, and
are easily distinguished from the other IN
habitants in the cast Of the figures. After
our guide, native of Nablons, had point
ed out three or four, had no difficulty in
recognizing all the others we met. They
have long but not prominent noses, like
the Jews; small oblong eyes, narrow lips.
and fair complexion, most of them have
brown hair. They appear to be held in
considerable obloquy by the Moslems,
Our attendant, who was of the low class
of Arabs, took the boys that We met very
unceremoniously by the head, calling out:
"Here is another Samaritan" He then
conducted US TO their synagogue, to see
the celebrated Pentateuch, which is there
preserved. We were taken to small
| open court, shaded by an Apricot tree,
where the priest, an old man in green
robe and white turban, was seated in med
itation. He had a long grey beard and
black eyes, that lighted up with a sudden
expression of eager greed when we prom
ised him bachshish for sight Of the sa-
cred book. He rose, and took us into q
sort of chapel, followed by a number of
Samaritan boys, Kneeling down at a
niche in the wall. he procured from behind
a. wooden case piece.5of ragged parch-
ment written with Hebrew characters. But
the guide was familiar with this deception,
and rated him so soundly, thai after q Ht-
tie hesitation, he laid the aagment away.
and produced large tin cylinder. cover!
ed with piece of green satin einbroider-i
ed in gold. The boys stopped down and
Ireyerenly kissed the blazoned hover. be-
fore 1t was removed. The cylender slip
ping back. by two rows Of hinges, opened
at the same time the parchment scroll, !,
which was rolled at both ends. h.was
Indeed Q very ancient manuscript, and in
remarkable preservation. The rents hsye
been carefully repaired. and the scroll
neatly stitched upon another parchment.s
covered on the outside with violet satin.
The priest informed me that it was written
by the son of Aaron, but this does not COIN
eide with the fact thatthe Samaritan Pen.
taseuch is different from that Of the Jews.
Il is however. no doubt one of the Oldest
parchment records in the world, and the
Samaritans look upon il with unbounded
faith and reverence. The Pentateuch, &C.
cording to their version, contains their
only form OF religion They reject eve
rything else which the Old Testament con-
tains: Three or four days ago was their
grand feast OF sacrifice. when they made
q burnt ottsringsof q lamb, on the top Of q
Mount Gerizin. Within q short time it
is said. they have shown some curiosity to:
become acquainted with the New Iesta-
ment. and the High Priest sent to Jerusa-
lem to procure Arabic copies.
I asked one OF these wild eyed boys
whether he could read the sacred work.
"Oh, yes," said the priest, .sall these boys
can read il. and the one addressed i'm
mediately pulling volume from his breast.
and commenced reading in fluent Hebrew.
Il appeared to be part Of their church
service, for both the priest and boab, or
responses; and occasionally the whole