Mussulmans that he is still alive, like Enoch and Elijah : 12. Hassan Askerie, who is buried at Suromoxah, near Bagdad. The Mohammedan inhabitants of Muscat curse Ali, for they say that he had left the true faith (Kharaj); and they are therefore called Kharajee.

"Mullah Muhamed was sent to me this morning by the Mutched (Mufti) of the capital, to inquire whether it was true that I came here to dispute with the Mussulmans about the truth of the Gospel : if this was the case, he advises to cease from doing so.

"I called on Khosroe Khan, who asked me whether it was true that Judah, the son of Jacob, had such strength in his hair that he was able to kill all the Egyptians with it? an idea he took from the Jews. "I called to-day on the Vizier : whilst I was with him, a Mullah advocated the cause of an oppressed Mussulman; in a very loud voice,' This man is a Mussulman, and says, God is God, and Muhamed the prophet of God: he is not a Jew, who says there is God, and Moses the Prophet of God.'

"I travel as a Jewish Rabbi, dressed in long garments, who goes about to preach that Jesus is the Son of God, and that he died for our sins. Armenians from the neighbourhood of Ispahan called on me. They inform me that around Ispahan live, in sixty places, as far as Kermanchah and Ispahan, 3,357 families of Armenians, or 16,785 souls. Mokdese Abed Saharia, the Armenian of Ispahan, whom Lady Georgiana and I visited at Jerusalem, called on me.

'Aug. 23.-Haji Mirza Farl Ullah, of Sava, fifty miles from Teheran (where, according to the Hadees, the sea was in the time of Muhamed, and was changed by the prophet into dry land) called on me with him came Mirza Muhamed, Hassein Muheed, and Mullah Muhamed Resa, and Agha Muhamed Hassein of Teheran. Haji Mirza Farl Ullah is in possession of Henry Martyn's controversy. He tells me that the son of Imam Hassan Askerie will be the Mehde who is still alive, though invisible, either at Jabl Kah or Jabl Sah. As soon as he shall be visible, a thousand children will be born of his shoulders. But before him Antichrist shall be killed by Jesus. Antichrist is the son of a Jew, and was born at Medinah, in the time of Muhamed, and is at present at Ghilan or Ispahan, but invisible until the time shall come. After Antichrist shall be killed, Mehde shall make his open appearance. After that I had heard their views, I spoke to them about Jesus Christ and him crucified, and Jesus Christ and him glorified in the latter days.

"Mullah Bahram, the Guebre, who is now daily with me, tells me that they do not use the water for any unclean purpose, for in the water the light is visible. The atrocious sins committed among Persians and Turks are not committed among the Guebres. Zer-. shust was cast into a fiery furnace by Nimrod (according to the belief of the Guebres), on account of refusing to acknowledge him to be God. Zerchust arrived to the knowledge of one God, by degrees, from arguing from the effects to the first cause. The same the Jews believe of Abraham.

"Mullah Muhamed, of Bustan, called on me he tells me that

Mehde who is to appear, performs a pilgrimage to Mecca every year he is seen, but not known. He tells me he was glad to learn that I believe the speedy arrival of Jesus, for the signs of the times prove that Mehde must soon come. Before that time shall arrive, the angel Gabriel shall appear upon the mountain Abokobers, or upon the Raba at Mecca, and shall exclaim, 'Come near, for Mehde has appeared.' Then bloodshed and war shall be the daughter shall be against her mother, and the city of Coofa shall be built again.

"I called on the Mujtched (Mufti), whose name is Ameer Muhammed Mehdee. Mullah Bahram, the Guebre, who is quite my Mentor, told me, in entering the room of the Mujtched, You must speak in the following manner :- You are my superior; I am your servant. You are a great man: I have heard much of you: I have never seen a good man like yourself!' However, I did not make him any such compliments; but said, Having been a Jew, believing that Jesus Christ, who was the Son of God, died for our sins and iniquities, I wish that my nation shall believe the same. He replied, that he has no objection to my arguing with Mussulmans, but not go to the houses of Mussulmans; for at Teheran are many fanatics, and they might do to me as they lately did to the Russian Ambassador, and he should be sorry for such an event; for Muhamed says, Be kind to a stranger, though he should be an infidel.—The Mujtched and the rest of the Mullahs treated me with great attention. Among the rest was Ahmet Mullah Ramasan Ali, who knew Henry Martyn and his controversies. Mullah Bahram tells me that the Guebres acknowledge Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, as prophets, but not Muhamed. If one wishes to turn Guebre, he must be sprinkled seven times with water: they give him a girdle, and give him something to eat prepared of wine and flour. It is remarkable, that, as well the Jews, Guebres, Christians, and Mohammedans in the East believe that there are seventy-two religions in the world.

"The Mohammedans of Persia called themselves Sheahs, to distinguish themselves from the followers of Omar, whom they call Sunnee. The Sheahs divide themselves in seven parties: 1. Keisane; 2. Wakef; 3. Naoosees; 4. Fatahe; 5. Ismaele; 6. Seydee; 7. Athna Asheree, i. e. that is, those who acknowledge twelve Imaums.

66

Aug. 25.-I think many things which I learn by Mullah Bahram are confirmed by Hyde'sBook, HistoriaReligionis Veterum Persarum: he says, 'Persae erant quatuor elementorum custodes et curatores, et præcipuam autem aeram inde pendebant, in ignem et aquam utpote quæ essent contaminatione maxime abnoxia.' They have still, as Hyde describes, several ecclesiastical dignitaries, and have beside the Morbul and Destor, 1st, Phersangani; 2d, Pharhand; 3d, Hyrbed. Mullah Bahram tells me that the whole world was of water before God created it. They believe in the Deluge; history of fallen angels: the good go to Behesht, i. e. paradise; the bad ones to hell, where they remain till their sins are expiated. Solomon, according to Mullah Bahram, was Jamshid. The devil is called by them Ahrmand. The Guebres sacrifice a sheep every year. The

Morbul distinguishes himself from the Destor by wearing hair upon his head.

Hajee Hindee Zahori Aluesa, of Laknaur, a Hindoo lady, called on me, with a Persian gentleman, in order that she might hear what I have to say. She is a Mullah, a learned woman, and has travelled to Mecca and Meshed. I told her that I believed that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again for our justification, and that whosoever believes on him shall be saved. She tells me she has learned, by the book called Khoraj Naruh, that Christ will appear again after thirty years, on the mountain Aboko Bers; and Elijah, Jonah (who is still alive in a fish's belly), and Enoch, will be his forerunners. "Muhamed Meehle Mirza, of the decayed family of Nadir Shah, who is the brother-in-law of Sille Sultan, called on me, with Mallah Abd Allah and Mirza Ibrahim, to hear what I had to say. I related to them in what manner I came to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. "I am going after to morrow. 66 JOSEPH WOLFF." "Teheran, Sept. 1831.

"You will be surprised to find that I am still here, but my friend Khosroe Khan did advise me not to go with that caravan with which I intended to go, and he has recommended me to one of the chiefs of the Turcomans, who does not set out before fifteen days more from hence however, it has this advantage, that I shall be back, if the Lord please, seven months sooner from Bokhara. The way to Bokhara is exceedingly difficult, on account of the jealousy of its inhabitants; however, the Lord is with me: my health is recovered. I think I forgot to give you in my last letter a copy of the angels' names, as the Guebres in Persia denote them-i. e. the chiefs of the angels-Wahman, Auh-Meschesht, Shahr-War, Sepander-Meyd, Khudad, Amoridad, Deh, Adom, Aboon, Khushed, Mah, Tesh-Dar, Gerch, Deh, Mehrised, Swrast, Rashn, Parwardeen, Warahroon, Room, Baad, Deh, Dean, Aul, Achdaad, Asmeen, Sonizad, Muntrasapand, Amron. There are thirty, but Mullah Bahram did not recollect the name of the thirtieth.

66

Aug. 25.-The Jews called again on me, to whom I proclaimed Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

66

Aug. 26.—A Jewish physician called on me, to whom I gave an Arabic Bible, for he has made his studies in Arabic.

“The Ali Ilahe just called this moment. I asked him, 'By what particular sign do you know each other?'-Answer. We ask one, Whence do you drink the water? The Ali Ilahe puts out his tongue towards the whiskers, and says, Az serre tabeel, i. e. from the whiskers.'

6

"Resa, the Ali Ilahe, asked me, Does the sun move around the earth, or the earth around the sun?' I did not like to tell him my belief on this subject, until I heard his. He said, to my greatest surprise, that the earth did move round the sun; that Ali said, that from this day and night proceeded. Every thing on the face of the water turns about.--Question. How large are the stars? Auswer. If a star was to fall upon the earth, it would

6

'Have

appear that it has the size of a large sheep.'-Question. the stars names?' Answer. These are the names, Sarah Merechh, Muchtaree, Sorah, Suheil, Suel, Mizaam, Hafl Bezer.'--Question. 'Who was Zurshorst?' (Zoroaster). Answer. King Abraham, who was cast into the fiery furnace by Nimrod.'-He asked me whether I believed paradise was a particular place? I said, I did; for Jesus said to the thief, To-day thou shalt be with me in paradise ! '—Ali Ilahe. Wherever Jesus is, there is paradise, and the fire is turned into a rose.- -Question. Who are now the great men in Persia among the Ali Ilahi?' Answer. Sayid Ketab Ullah, Sayid Azim Mullah at Teheran; Sayid Imrahac Khan, Seid Meir Ali Awlad Seid Shams Ali at Teheran; Haji Mullah Resa Kanzar Ali.'

"The Persians, to console one of whom a relation died, say, 'To you may be life! To your head be peace! The Lord preserve those who have remained alive!' The salutation to a married person, 'May you be blessed! Good future and good heaven! May you become old!' "I dined with the Jews here, and preached to them the Gospel. A Jewish physician called on me, to whom I preached again: he consented to all I told him.

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:

I

Sept. 8.-The caravan for Herat intends to start to-morrow. go to Herat in company of the son of the grand Mullah of Herat, who is very kind to me. Herat is in Afghan, and governed by Kamrum Shah. Before the time of the famous Nadir Shah, Halaker Khan governed Herat, Cantahar, Bokhara; and Cabul Nadir Shah, king of Persia, took by force of arms Herat, Cantahar, Cabul, and went as far as India. Nadir Shah was killed; Ahmed king of Cabul, Cantahar, Herat after Ahmed, Timour: after him Shah Zemar; then his son Mahmud Shah, who took Cabul and Cantahar. Zujah Almukh, brother of Mahmud Shah, took Pechawar ; Haji Firusi Deen took Herat, without adopting the title of king. The Vizier (Fatta Khan) of Mahmud Shah came and took Herat by a stratagem. Kamram, the son of Mahmud Shah, came from Cantahar, and took possession of Herat, and took out the eyes of Fatti Khan the Vizier, and brought him to Cantahar. The brother of Fatti Khan took Cabul and Pechawar. Muhmud Shah and his son Kamram went to war with them, but were defeated. Mahmud Shah killed Fatti Khan, and came to Herat. The brothers of Fatti Khan advanced as far as Cantahar, and took it. Herat remained in the hands of Mahmud Shah. Mahmud Shah died two years ago, and Kamram is now king of Herat. Herat is inhabited by Mussulmans and Jews. Three brothers of Fatti Khan govern at Pechawar. Kahmandil Khan governs at Cantahar. Afghan is inhabited by followers of Omar and Ali, by Jews and Armenians and near Cabul are Kaffers Sizel Poosh, a sect not known.

s;

"Teheran, Sept. 1831. Sept. 15.-You will be surprised that I am still here in this place; but the chiefs of the caravans are such liars that one cannot place any dependence on their word: but this week it will be certain that we shall start from Herat, with our camels. In order that you may have an exact idea of the route I am taking, I communicate to

Dumghan
Kharzatad

you now the whole route, with the number of miles from place to place-that is, as the camel-drivers go.

Miles.

From Teheran to
Kubeed Kunar 18

Hussane Abad
Neshapoor.

14

Kalamgah

9

Sherifabad.

12

393

Dolbabad

As far as Meshed, the King of Persia has a little only to command in Khorassan. The people of Khorassan send him horses. Meshed is inhabited by Mussulmans and rich Jews; and is called holy, for Imam Resa is buried there.

Route from Meshed to Herat in Afghan, governed by Shah Kamran.

The people called Karaz. There the Hazare tribe exists: they are robbers. There Afghan begins, which belongs to the Shah Kamran. From Gozan to Fereroot his dominion extends.

|| Herat is inhabited by the followers of Omar and Ali, and thirty families of respectable Jews. Many hundred Hindoos from Cherkarpore are there. The king has not above 6000 soldiers.

"From Herat to Bokhara I have not yet information about the miles, but I can give you the stations :

From Herat to Baba Murghab

Thence to Maimona

to Ankhoz

to Bokhara

5 days, with camels;

3

6

so that from Teheran to Bokhara, with a caravan of camels, is 56 days; but from Herat to Bokhara I can go with an Osbeke-i. e. an inhabitant of Bokhara, on horseback, in ten days.

English Miles from Bokhara to Cabul, with the Route with Camels.

* Balkh does not now belong to the King of Bokhara. There are a good many Jews there. Several Englishmen—as Moorcroft, and others—died there. + This is the mountain Dandan.