ceived the Scriptures in various languages, from the Committee of the Bible Society in Malta, for sale or gratuitous distribution, according to circumstances. He stated that such a book, in some parts of Italy, would be worth thirty francs. I gave him a copy of the Arabic Genesis, which he expressed a wish to have an opportunity of shewing to some persons in Genoa.

A Maltese, whom I had known in Malta, having called on me, I gave him some Italian Tracts, and spoke to him of the duty of reading the Scriptures.

Monday, Jan. 3-I sent out copies of the Scriptures, by a young Jew, in the employ of the English Vice-Consul. The heads of two of the Christian Families immediately purchased two Italian Bibles, one Arabic Bible, and one Italian Testament. The Collector of the Customs, a Mahomedan, sent a man to request specimens of all that I had in Arabic, for inspection; and stated that he would purchase, if the books should please him. Another Moor also sent to request the loan of an Arabic Bible. The same difficulties were started by the Jews here, with reference to the Hebrew Bible, as in Tunis: the Rabbies found an additional objection in the words, "Posteriores Prophetæ," which they translated "The New Prophets ;" and said that they knew of no New Prophets. An aged Rabbi called; and, passing his finger down the Hebrew Text, said that that was good. He refused either the gift or the loan of a Hebrew Testament.

It is not unpleasing to observe the great jealousy of the Jews with regard to the purity of the text of the Sacred Records; and it may be used as an argument, in conversing with Mahomedans, against their opinion that the Scriptures have been adulterated.

There were eight merchant-vessels lying in the Roads of Susa-six French, one Spanish, and one Genoese. I visited four of them, but only succeeded in selling one French Testament. The roughness of the weather prevented me from going on board such of the remainder of them as were in pratique. None of the seamen could read; and the two Captains, with whom I spoke, manifested great indifference

to their having opportunities of either hearing or reading the Holy Scriptures.

In walking through the town, a part was pointed out to me in which Slaves are sold: I was also shewn a small Foudok, or Caravansera, in which they are kept, from the time of their arrival till they are sold or transmitted to other places. The few rooms, allotted for this purpose, which I saw, were very small and confined: there were no Slaves in any to which I was admitted.

Meeting two Negroes outside the walls of the town, I spoke to them by means of a young man who accompanied me. They said that they were both free; the one having been liberated by the British Consul in Tripoli, and the other by a Son of the Bey. They mentioned Bornou as the country from which they had been brought. Speaking of the way in which Slaves are taken, they said that their Chiefs go to war with one another, and sell their prisoners. The one who had been liberated by the British Consul, stated that he was very young when he was brought from his country, and that he was kidnapped while wandering at a distance from his home: he added, that Slaves sometimes endeavour to escape to the British Consulate in Tripoli; and that many die from thirst during the journey from the interior.

I gave an Arabic Genesis to an old Moor for his son, who could read Arabic: it was afterward told me that this son was a Schoolmaster.

A Native Jew, who called upon Seignior Manucci in the evening, asked for the Hebrew Testament. When he came to the account of the birth of our Saviour, he laid down the book, and began to laugh. I spoke to him of the institution of sacrifices, and of the frequent use of blood in their Services; and, turning to the Fifty-third Chapter of Isaiah, asked him of whom the Prophet spake: he made no reply. After quoting the passage, The Sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come-I stated, that, at the time that Jesus Christ appeared in the world, there was a general expectation of the Messiah among the Jews; because their learned men knew that the pro

phecies relating to Him were drawing near to their accomplishment: "either, therefore," I said, "Christ was the true Messiah, or your prophecies are"-anticipating me, he added, "false"—" for you have now been without rule for above eighteen hundred years." He made no other answer, but that he would send a Rabbi to converse with me.

The servant of the Consul, a Jew, who had been standing by, said, a short time afterward, that Jews exist as an independent nation in some part of the East, beyond a certain river, and that all Mussulmans are supernaturally prevented from entering their country. When I mentioned that the Ten Tribes had never returned from the Babylonish Captivity, he immediately caught the idea as helping his remark ; as though some of the Captivity possessed power in the countries to which they had been taken. Speaking to him of the vanity of their expectations, he feelingly replied, “He will come; and perhaps these eyes may behold him, and we shall be avenged on our oppressors"-or in words of similar import. The same observation, and in a similar manner, had been made to me in Bizerta, by one of the Jews there.

Tuesday, Jan. 4, 1825-One of the individuals, who sent for an Arabic Bible, returned it. Two Moors called, and read in the Book of Genesis. Coming to the words in the Second Chapter, And he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made, they immediately stopped; and said, rather angrily, that God could not feel fatigued, and that Sidna Musa (our Lord Moses) had not written that book. I was proceeding to reply, but they would not wait, but went

out.

The Mahomedan Schoolmaster, to whom I had sent an Arabic Genesis, came and read for a short time in the Arabic Bible. In the evening, Seignior Manucci sent for him again he took up the Bible, and began to read aloud. He said that he had read the principal part of the Book of Genesis. He made the same objections as the other two Mahomedans to the words rested on the seventh day: I said that the words were, in my opinion, to be considered as simply meaning, that, on the seventh day, the work was com

pleted, and the Creator therefore ceased from it. He also objected to the 27th verse of the First Chapter-So God created man in his own image, &c.; observing that the passage in Arabic would bear the signification, " equal to himself:" I replied, that the words had reference to the superiority of man over every other creature; and spoke of his reasoning faculties, and the immortality of the soul, as resemblances of the Deity: he acquiesced in this interpretation. He was much pleased with the Ten Commandments; and, stopping at the third, he seemed to understand that it condemns their practice of using the Name of God on the most trivial occasions. I turned to the Psalms and the Book of Proverbs: with parts of the Proverbs he seemed much delighted, saying repeatedly, "Good, good." But what appeared to make the greatest impression on him, was the Sermon on the Mount: he read the greater part of the Fifth Chapter of St. Matthew; and, turning down the leaf, said that he should like to take a copy of it: I pointed out, particularly, the 33d to the 37th verses, ending, But let your conversation be yea, yea, nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these, cometh of evil: from what he said, I perceived that he fully understood the spirit of the passage. He expressed no disapprobation; but his spirit seemed to rise against the principle of overcoming evil with good, which I stated to be the meaning of the passage, But whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

During our reading, the Mahomedan Mufti sent for copies of the Arabic Bible and Book of Genesis; saying, as usual, that he would purchase, if he should like them.

A Mahomedan, it is to be observed, professes to do every thing in the Name of God; but this injunction of their religion does not sanction their constant practice of using that Name in the way of interrogation and asseveration. This they do in common discourse, and mean no more than "Indeed!" or "Is it so?"-"Yes."

It is to be lamented that both Jews and professing Christians, in this country, are highly culpable in this respect; and, in conversing with Mahomedans, instead of rather reproving

them, seem designedly to pay them the compliment of imitating their evil habit.

Wednesday, Jan. 5, 1825-Seignior Manucci stated that his partner and himself are in the frequent habit of visiting Monasteer and Mehdîa. Monasteer is about eight miles and Mehdîa twenty-five to the south-east of Susa; both of them sea-ports. Each, it is said, contains about 20,000 inhabitants. They are, with Susa, the principal depôts of oil. There are no Christians resident in either of these two towns.

I was informed that about 200 vessels arrive, annually, on the eastern coast of the Kingdom of Tunis. They are chiefly French. This number appeared to me considerable, and may probably be somewhat over-rated: it is, in a great measure, regulated by the demands for oil, and the opportunity of furnishing the quantity required.

I deposited with Seignior Manucci nearly two boxes full of the Scriptures; chiefly in Arabic, Italian, French, and Hebrew. He stated that he should have opportunities of promoting their circulation in Susa, Monasteer, Mehdîa, and Sfax. In Susa, he intended to employ the Mahomedan Schoolmaster already spoken of; making him, as I authorised him to do, an allowance on sales. He engaged to correspond with the Committee of the Bible Society in Malta.

I was able to obtain but little information relative to Sfax. It contains, they say, about 20,000 inhabitants. There is only one resident Christian: he acts as English Agent during the absence of Seignior Carlo Moro. Sponge is one of the prin cipal articles of export.

RETURN TO TUNIS.

At one P.M. I left Susa, to return to Tunis. We arrived at Herkla, at half-past-four; and found a caravan of twelve camels, which was to set forward at some hour in the night. The caravansera is a very wretched one: it consists of a few hovels round a court-yard. That which fell to the lot of myself and my guides, was about fifteen feet long and nine feet wide; and was some inches deep in sand, for there was no floor. Herkla is the Heraclea of the Romans, and is conjectured to be the Adrumetum of earlier times. An account