is situated in that part of Asia which belongs to Turkey. It was once the capital of that country, and was very celebrated in almost every part of the world. In this town, all that was great, and all that was wealthy, were collected together. Here dwelt many of those rulers whose names are well known in the history of the East.

But now it is very changed. There are many rich people still there, but there are a far greater number of poor wretched creatures. There are few buildings of any size or importance, although the city is very large.

In Bagdad, about 12,000 Jews reside; but there are also vast numbers living in all the neighbouring towns, making more than 100,000. They have a great college in the city at which they study the Talmud, for which they have a great name. There is a large court next to this college; here all the children are taught, and sometimes there are as many as 700 or 800 present. But when we know how little these poor children learn, and how foolish is a great deal of that which they are taught, we may well thank God for our mercies and privileges.

Those of the Jews who are rich, have great power with the government. By means of bribes they often lead them to persecute and oppress others, especially those Jews who are beginning to seek the Lord Jesus. These things are great difficulties to our work.

It was not till the year 1844 that our Committee took steps to establish a mission at Bagdad. There had been so many places which called for their labours, that they did not enter upon this field before. When they did so, they determined to begin with a good number of

Laissionaries.

In that distant part of the world is important to do this, because the misMionaries are much exposed to sickness on account of the climate. And besides this it would be good for them to have support and sympathy from each other, not only at Bagdad, but in their missionary journies, for there were no others in the place of the same mind.

Accordingly, on the 19th of October of that year, Messrs. M. Vicars, H. A. Stern, P. H. Sternschuss, &c., reached Bagdad. On their journey through the Desert, they had met with much to interest them. On the banks of the Euphrates they found a great number of Caraite Jews, to whom they were enabled to preach the Gospel.

For some time after the missionaries arrived at Bagdad, the Jews came in crowds to see and to hear them. This was particularly so on Sundays, when they proved to them from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. To all these things they listened with attention, and the Word of Truth seemed to make an impression upon some of their minds. But when the chief men among the Jews saw this, they were very angry, and they pronounced a curse upon the missionaries, and upon any Jew who might go to see them.

This obliged the missionaries for some time to be very careful, although they did not cease their labours. It seemed therefore a good time for them to visit the interior of Persia, and to seek out the many Jews who were living in those parts. Many were the places of interest to which they went. Among these were Kermanshah, Hamadan, Bussorah, Bushire, and Shiraz

They found a large number of Jews in these towns, as well as in many others. They went into the synagogues, and into the schools, and there they preached the Gospel. The Jews also came to their lodgings, and listened with readiness to the message of salvation. With sparkling eyes and earnest attention they heard the glad tidings of redeeming love.

The missionaries took with them a great number of Bibles. These were printed in the Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and Armenian languages. This was indeed a great blessing; for before this time the poor Jews found it difficult to obtain Bibles, and knew nothing of the Word of God. Here they received, not only the Old Testament, but also the New. They could then search for themselves as to the truth of the message which the missionary made known. Some of these poor Jews were willing to give their all for the Word of God. Oppressed and ill-treated by the Mahomedans, they had often not even bread to eat. But they were willing to do anything, in order that they might become possessed of the Word of God. Here were the Scriptures finding their way into some of the wildest parts of the world. And the missionaries knew of many cases in which they seemed to be received into the heart, and these persons were most anxious to be baptized. But they knew that these poor people would be most bitterly oppressed, and perhaps murdered, and this kept back many of them from doing what their conscience told them was right. We shall say more about the mission at another time. Your sincere friend, THE EDITOR.

LXI.

LXII.

QUESTIONS.

What were the nations to be driven out of Canaan by the people of Israel? Did the people of Israel drive them out from the land?

LXIII. If they did not drive them out, what did Joshua say those nations would be to them?

LXIV.

LXV.

LXVI.

What king of Israel had most of these nations serving him and paying him tribute?

What was to be the limit of the promised land?

Was the whole of the promised land ever possessed by the people of Israel?

ANSWER TO CHARADE XXV.

To rest in dark Machpelah's shade,
By Sarah's side was Abram laid.
Mid Olivet's dark groves He trod !

Whom heaven proclaimed and owned as God;
In Rama's depths was wailing heard,
And many a heart that wailing stirred!
In Dothan Joseph's life was sought;
By brother's base and treacherous plot!
In Elah's vale, by David's sling,
The Giant fell :-ye maidens sing!
On Calvary's mount a Saviour bled,
Our sins were laid on His dear head
On Ararat's snowy peak sublime,
The fathers knelt in olden time!
In Idumea Ishmael roams,

And in the desert finds his home!

The mystery solved! His name we trace,
E'en MORDECAI-Israel's race!

F. S. H. and H. H

SCRIPTURE CHARADE.

XXVI.

66

"A HAVEN for ships," his possession shall be, His border shall stretch forth from river to sea. "Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel." He, touching the ark of God, instantly fell. Thou "son of my sorrow or son of my toil," "Devour in the morn, and at night take thy spoil." "His bread shall be fat," "royal dainties he'll yield." He blesseth the reapers at work in the field. Jehovah hath helped! a stone let us raise;

The stone roll'd away, now the dead speaks His praise. The stone by HIS hands is laid low in the ground; "Grace! grace! to the top-stone!" ere long shall resound.

Poetry.

M. M.

"THE desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose." I sa. xxxv. 1. THE desert waste shall bloom again,

The wilderness shall smile;
Sad daughter of Jerusalem,

Oh! tarry yet awhile.

A glorious time is coming,
When Zion's harp shall be,
No more in lonely exile hung,
Upon the willow tree.

When on the heights of Olivet,
A mighty host shall stand;
A people ransomed to the Lord,
In Zion's holy land.

And lo, upon Moriah's hill,
A Christian temple see,
Where Israel's sons adoring own,
The Christ of Calvary.

And with united voices sweet,
Their Hallelujah's raise ;

A glorious anthem to the Lamb,
Öf triumph, joy, and praise.

HELEN.

Printed at the Operative Jewish Converts' Institution, Palestine Place, Bethnal Green, London, N.E.