The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-07
HISTORY OF THE JEWS or CHINA
Hebrews Who Have Become Almost
EntircIy Chinese

From the Jewish Messenger.
Interest I'm the origin and history OF the
Jews OF China-a subject about which
much has been written OF late years. and
TO whose elucidation Rev. Mr. Glover has
devoted much careful study-is likely to
be increased by an article that appears
In the last issue Of Graetz's Monatschrift.
from the pen OF p. G. Won Mollendorff.
for many years minister president Of Ko-
rea. lie has condensed much information
on the topic, and adds his own impress
sions, with a glance at the present condi-
ton Of the Jewish colony.
IL was the Jesuit Aleni who in 1913 first
discovered Jews in Kai-fung-fu. the capt.
tai of the province OF Honan. They were
often visited subsequently by Catholic mis-
sionaries; but apparently they lacked the
requisite knowledge and were unable TO
make any further researches. According
to Older literature on the Jews OF China.
the Jews of kai-fung-fu in the last cen
fury still possessed synagogue and num-
bcred 500 or 6O0 adherents. They were
supposed by the Chinese 20 be Mohemme-
dams, the latter being called huei-huei. The
missionaries state that the Jews originally
came from Persia, in the reign OF Yung
ping of the Han dynasty, and that their
language contains many Persian words.
During the rein of the Emperor Hsian-
tsung Q163-ll9O seventy Jewish families
settled In Kai-fung-fu.
The first attempt to identify the Jews OF
that city was made by the London society
for the conversion of the Jews who sent
a deputation of Chinese Christians to Kai-
fung-fu in 1850 They succeeded I'm ac-
quiring some manuscripts, defective
scroll Of the law now in Hong Kong. and
seven other manuscripts which are pre-
served in London
In 1865 DR.. Martin visited Kai-fung-fu,
and found there seven families with Chi
nese family names and about 200 persons
who had become entirety Chinese and
only partly had retained the Semetic
type. They had no knowledge OF the He
brew language or literature Many
had intermarried with Chinese women.
Their last rabbi had died In the province
of Kansu in 1920. In their synagogue.
which had fallen in ruins, was shown an
Inscription which stated that the syna-
gogue was built in the reign of Lung
hsing Ql63-ll65l and had been rebuilt IN
the years of Hung-tschy QiSS-l506).
II is clear that the date OF the inscrip-
tion confirms the tradition as to the ar
rival OF 20 Jewish families in the reign
of Emperor Hslan-tsuns, IN the second
half OF the twelfth century But II is
still unknown whence they came, or
whether they found co-religionists in Chi
ma. Considering that is IT only OF recent
years since the Jews OF England took
steps to identify the Beni-lsrael of India,
and now recognize, despite their black
skin, as Jews, 1t is not impossible that
the Alliance Israelite or the Anglo-Jewsh
association Will devise measures TO pro-
mote intercourse with the fast-decaying
colony of kai-fung-su, and more thorough
~ investigate their written records and
traditions.
Since the English treaty of 1912 threw
open Hong Kong and few other places
to western trade, Jews nave done their
share to promote commerce. The first
Jewish settlers came from Bombay, where
they had arrived from Bagdad in the early
part Of the century. At present there are
u Jewish firms and about 1870 individuals,
who are English subjects, in Hong Kong
and Shanghai, with two synagOgues and
cemeteries. They deal chiefly in cotton,
wool and opium, and are well-to-do. They
dress in the English fashion and speak
Arabic, Hindustani and English. The
chief firms are those of Sassoon, Ezekiel,
Joshua and Ezra They follow the Span
ish ritual in their worship.