The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-05-12
THE UBIQUITOUS JEW.

1t has frequently been remarked that
the Jewish race has q wonderful power of
adaptation to all climates Jews are found
in all parts OF the globe, and seem to pos
sess a remarkable facility for acclimati-
zation, even under the most unfavorable
circumstances. Mesopotamia is consid-
cred the mother country of the Abrahamic
family, as well as the cradle of the hu-
man race. Some years ago small colony
of Jews were found in the ancient city of
Seminar, in the South of Mesopotamia,
and in the vicinity of ancient Babylon.
OF the seventy families composing the
colony, one claimed to be descended
from King joachim; the rest from the
house OF Levi. A colony of Jews appea
to have settled in China about the begin
ming of the Christian era, under the dy
nasty OF Han. In 174, Father Gonzani, a
Roman Catholic missionary, found seven
Jewish families near Pekin.
In 1886 Portuguese Jew of Amster-
dam, named De Pavia, discovered a sect
of Jews in Cochin China. According to
tradition preserved among them, they
were descended from tribe Of Jews who
had quilted Palestine on the destruction
OF the second temple. From their long
residence in Cochin they had become
completely bronzed. These are not the
same as the Malsbar Jews. The Jewish
traveller, Benjamin, sometimes called
Benjamin the Second, discovered colony
of Jews, evidently OF Persian origin, in
Hindostan. They were known as "Baby-
lonian Jews" on account of their hav-
ing migrated from Babylonia. They OBJ
served the essential rites of Judaism, and
strictly avoided marriage with other
sects. In the beginning of the seven
teenth century Jewish colony settled in
Cayenne, in the West Indies, one of the
most inhospitable climates in South
America.
Cayenne was subsequently conquered
by the French, who made it penal set
Element, and the Jewish colony was forced
to retire to Surinam. Notwithstanding
frequent prosecutions, Jews are still found
in Persia, more especially to the South of
the Caspian sea, where the soil is fertile
but the climate very unhealthy. The
principal city is Balprosh, where about
$50 Jewish families reside in almost COM
plete isolation. They trade with their
brethren in Great Tartary, and are en-
gagged in the wool and silk trade or in the
sale of citrons. They, too, trace their
origin from the Bsbylonian captivity, for
according to tradition still possessed
among them, their ancestors settled in
Persia in the time of ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
and did not respond to the appeal of Ezra
to return to Palestine. Their mode of
life resembles that of the Persians in
general. They hold the beard in high
esteem, and wear long flowing robes.
They have several synsgogues, and OBJ
tain scrolls Of the law of Bsgdad. The
celebrated African traveller, Mungo Park
found colony of Jewish families in the
heart of Africa, about 800 miles from the
coast. 1t is no doubt this popularity of
the Jewish race which induced French
writer on medical Geography" to ex-
press the opinion that at is question
able whether the crossing of human va
rieties confers on the issue constant ad-
Vantages in relation to the species; for
he Jewish race seems in a wonderful
manner capable of adapting itself to
avery change of climate, while others are
scarcely able to bear the least change"
The Jew is found in every part of the
world; in Europe, from Norway to Glib
altar; in Africa, from Algiers to the
Cape Of Good Hope; in Asia, from Cochin
% the Caucasus; from Java to Pekin. He
las peopled Australia, and has given
proofs of his powers of acclimatizstion
lnder the tropics, where people of Eu-
opean origin have constantly failed to
,erpetuate themselves.-Jelcish World.
PRESIDENT ADAMS, of Cornell Univer-