The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-26
A COLONY OF JEWS IN THE HEART
OF CHINA.


Early Inquiries-M OhRmmedans I'm Kali
fung-DcstructiOn of the Synagogue
Distressed Condition of tn ePeopIe-
Decay and Threatened Extinction,
PEKIN, China, June, 1s66.-The city of Kai-
tung-iee, the capital of Honan, is famous as an
ancient capital of the empire, and the scene of
OF stirring events In the history of China To
the Christian world, however, it possesses a
deeper interest as the residence of q jewish
colony.
They were discovered by the celebrated Father
Ricci; and early in the seventeenth century. full
inquiries concerning their usages and manu-
scripts were made by Jesuit missionaries whor re-
sided In that city. In 1850 dep dtation of native
Christians was sent among them by the Bishop
OF Victoria and the late DR.. Medhurst, Two of
the Jews were induced to 90 to shanghai and
some of their Hebrew MSS. obtai but nm to
the date of my journey, for more than a century
and half, they had not SO far as we are in.
formed, been visited by any European. It be-
came, therefore, matter of interest TO ascer.
tam their present condition; and, as remarked
IN my last letter, this was the chief consldera
lion that induced me TO make Kai-fung.fee
pOlht IN the course OF my inland travels What
others may have published shall not repeat;
Uut conclsely as possible lay before you q review
Oh my own observations
arriving ID TINS city on the 18th of Februarv
4 inquired Tor the Jewish synagogue hnt o,ey, y,
tios fo to saMslac1ory answer, went for intorma-
'ioh W monaIhneoan mosque, OF which there
are - N ,.u., 80" SIX. | was well received Nv
the multi; and the advent OF a stranger from
the West who was belleved to be worshipper
OF the "true Lord" soon attracted large con-
course OF the faithful. At the request of the
mutt, holding q New Testament in my hand,
| addressed them in relation to the conten OF
the Holy Book of Jesus, whose name he pro-
nouDced with great respect, as that of the most
nf
course, excepted.
The Jews he denounced as Kdfrs and eyinced
no very poignant sorrow when he informed me
that their synagogue had come to desolatIon.
lit was, - he assured me, utterly demolished
and the people who had wOrshlpped there scat.
tered abroad" Then" sal |, 81 Will go and
see the spot on which 1t stood;n and directing
the bearers OF my sedan to proceed to the plac
indicated by the multi, Ipassed through street
crowded with curious specta ors until / cam
to an open square, in the centre of which ther
stood solitary stone. On one side was an in
scIiption commemorating the erection of the
Synagogue in the reign OF the Sung dynasty, A
ID. ll63; and referring -the first arrival of the
Jews IN China TO the dynasty of Hon. b. g.
200-A. ID. 200,
On the other side was record of its rebuild
ing IN the dynasty OF Ming, aboutthree hundred
years ago, but in addition 10 these inscriptions
II bore an unwIitten record of decay and ruin:iC
was inscribed with Ichabod, The glory is de.
parted.n
Standing on the pedestal, and resting NV
10 oe silent witness Of the truths was about
70 utter, explained to the congresE;eted multi
tuue nay reasons for "takipg pleasure In s5e
e"h faVoring the ddst thereof"
i then inquired If there were any oil 80
among nv hearers. 81 am one" responded
young man, whose face corroborated his ass9r-
tion, and then another and another stepped ior,
ward until / saw before me representatives OF
SIX OF the seven families into which the colony
rs now divided:
There, on this melancholy spot, where the
very foundations OF the synagogue had been
torn from the ground and there no Longer re
NAMED one stone upon another, they confessed
TO me with shame and grief that their "holy
and beautiful house" had been demolished by
their own hands. II had long been in ruinous
condition-they had no money TO repair the
breaches of the sanctuary. They had lost all
knoSIedee OF the sacrea tongue 1oe 6np onS
their ritual worship had ceased to be observed.
in this state OF things tdey had yielded to the
pressure OF necessity, and disposed OF the tim
bers ana stones OF that venerable edlhce 10
obtain relief for their bodily wants.
In the evening some OF them came to my
lodgings, bringing for my inspection roll ol
the law; and the next day, the Christian Sab
bath, they repeated their visit, listening atten-
lively to all had to say concerning the rela
tons OF the Law OF Moses to the Gospel OF
Christ. They were very Ignorant, but ans wered
10 their past history and presenestate. Two of
them appeared in Official costume, one wearing
a g1it and the Otner CfysVtl Dflh on the top OF
his cap; but far from sustaining the general
character of their people for thriftfthey number
among them none that are richSand few who
are not pinched by poverty. Somes indeed, true
to their hereditary instincts, are EMPLOYED in a
small way in banking establishments (he first
man saw was money-changer), others keep
fruits5ores and cake-shops, drive business in
old clothes, or pursue various ha dicrats, while
few find employment in military service.
The prevalence of rebellion in the Central
Provinces for the last thirteen years has told
anhl IA. - IT.F f....ne faas arnA
the Jews have not unlikely, owing 10 the natnre
OF their occupations, been the greatest sut-
eirers. Their number they estimate, though
not very exactly, at from two to four hundred.
They are unable to trace their tribal pedigree
keep no register, and never, on any occasion,
assemble together as one congregation.
Until recently they had a Common centre in
1A's Fenerated synagogue, though their liturg cal
service had long been Discontinued. Now, how
ever, the congregation seems TO be folio wing tls
fate of their building No bond Of Union re