The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-17
THE NATIONAL ERA WASHINGTON D. c, AUGUST II. 1854

Oh tne Caucasus. The Ksraim Jews princi
paiiy live IN the provinces of Eriyan and Ak
naizlk, and assert their descent pure and un.
mixed, from the tribe of Judah, which was led
70 BABYLON. But Haxthausen refers to another
section OF the Hebrew family.
Ia the District of Derbend,n says that wri-
Ier, There is said to be sect of Jews. named
oriani who embraced Christianity. but with.
out reiinquishing their Observance of the Jew.
ish law IN its full extent. They keep holy only
ene sabbath day, snd adhere strictly to all the
inJunctions and usages of the Law. following
the example of Christ, whom they acknowledge
as the Messiah, and who likewise enioined
opeoience to the Law. 1t is said that they
ciaim 20 De a remnant of the tribe of Bepja-
lnln VINO, during or after the captivity, moved
nor.h"aros from Assyria. At the period of the
Direh OF Gnrists they assert their scribes an
nounced that the Messiah was born in Bethle
nem ana, In consequence, they sent thither
two Of their number, named ionginus and
Elias, who were received among the seventy
9iscipies OF Christ. After the Crucifxion and
Resurrection, the latter returned to their
brethren, taking with them the under-garment
OF Chrlst, mot the seamless coat) which is
still preserved, and worshipped in the cathe
oral OF Mzcheta,* near Tifis. Lopginus is
SAID 20 have committed to writing the teach
ings OF the Saviour in a book, which they as
sert Is still In existence, or at least a tran
script OF 1t, but it is preserved with great Sc
cresy. They have no knowledge of the New
Testament. 1t would be of the highest interest
to institute research respecting this sect. al
though very difficult to arrive at the truth but
how important the discovery of book which
might in any degree form corollary to the
Gospel The fate of the Israelite tribes in
AssyrIa, 1t Is known, still remains q matter Of
historical doubt; they were unquestionably
dispersed throughout Asia, and a large portion
penetrated to the Caucasian countries, although
they are not found there in any considerable
numbers at the present day"
The Armenians differ fundamentally from
all other Asiatio nations in reference to the
social position occupied by women, whose
claims to equality Of respect and dignity are
by them recognised and enforced The degra-
dation OF Mohammedan females is we'll known ::
but there are passages in the Koran which
teach different doctrine than is popularity re-
celved, for those passages admit that women
have souls to be saved as well as men. Thus
Mohammed expressly declares, that Whose
ever doeth good works, either man or woman
and believeth, shall enter into the heavenly
Paradise" In another passage, lie says, "Be-
lieving men and women shall enter into the
heavenly Paradise" This, the highest testi-
mony, f6futes the vulgar error.
AS Mzcheta is not generally known, it may be
we'll to state hero that it supposed to be one Of the
most ancient towns in the world and tradition saws
1t was inhabited by some of the earliest descendants
OF Noah 1t was formerly the capital of G .orgia
and was then twenty miles in circumference, and is
said to have contained eighty thousand men capable
of bearing arms 1t was DESTROYED by Alexander
the Great. 1t now occupies the angle formed by
the confluence of the Cyrus and Aragua, whose uni
ted waters under the former appcatoH, run through
Tihis. J Do
NO " TO BE CONCLUDED IN OUR NEXT