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Jews of Kazerun suffer much persecution, consequently they are very poor and miserable. By trade they are gold and silversmiths. They are at home during the three great Jewish Festivals, but at other times they visit neighbouring towns and villages to work. All the Jews wear turbans. They are fair, stout, tall, and speak quite a different dialect from those of Shiraz. They have no school, and therefore their children are not able to read. It is said that Kazerun had a Jewish population of 2,500 about 100 years ago, but they have all left on account of the persecutions.

BORASJUN

is a very large village having 5,000 inhabitants, all Mohammedans, who always carry fire-arms and weapons. In 1856, when the British Government bombarded Bushire and took possession of it, the

that of Kazerun or Shiraz. They do not suffer much persecution. They are not allowed to make wine or spirits, and not a drop can be found amongst them. Their occupation is the same as of those of Kazerun, but they work at home. The Jews are not on good terms with one another, and bring mutual accusations before the Governor, who puts them in prison and fines them.

I stayed two days at Borasjun, and was privileged to see all the Jews. My servant, having informed the Jews of my arrival, in about half-an-hour's time nineteen Jews, including six elders, called. Before my arrival the Jews had heard that a European was coming to bring them some money. On hearing of my arrival, they concluded that I was the expected person. They became more certain when I asked questions with regard to their number and occupation. They

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British troops came as far as Borasjun and placed the British flag on the top of the caravanserai, which is the best that I have seen in Persia.

About 130 years ago the Governor of Borasjun was a Jew. I saw and conversed with his son, an old man of about 105 years. At that time there was a large Jewish colony of 600 persons, having three synagogues and rabbis, but, according to the statistics which I took, their present number is 143, and they live in huts made of the branches of palm trees. The Jews have no synagogues, rabbi, or, shochet, consequently they are not very strict religionists. All are ignorant, with the exception of three men, who can read a little Hebrew.

They are very stout, nice-looking men, and wear turbans. They speak a dialect quite different from

asked me, "How much money have you brought for us?" "Nothing," was my reply. "Why have you come here?" I said, "To bring you good news which you may not have heard before." I further said, "There are thousands and millions of persons in Europe who have found from the Old Testament that the expected Messiah has come, and as you are very far from those who know this great truth, I have come here to tell you. You need not wait any more, because He has come and redeemed us by the sacrifice of Himself, and He will come the second time to judge the whole world."

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Isaiah said, "Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and His name shall be called Wonderful, the Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace."" On hearing this they were silent for a minute, and then three of them shouted, Hallelujah It was good news that you brought us, give thanks to God, for He is good and His mercy endureth for ever." They were sorry I had not brought them any money, but they rejoiced at the words which I spoke to them.

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one of the British possessions of the Persian Gulf. For about a year it was in the possession of the British troops, and during that time they did much good, both to the people and to the town. Bushire has the look of a European town. Houses are built very high, and windows are opened into the streets. The houses have numbers, but the streets have no names. After a year the British troops left the town again under Persian administration, and they have kept it since then. Bushire is a very small

town. One can walk round the walls in an hour. It has a population of 10,000 inhabitants, including 2,000 Jews and 200 Armenians. The streets are very narrow, and the bazaars are dirty. The climate is very hot during the summer. The thermometer maiks 110 Fah. in the shade, and people suffer very much

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THE GATEWAY OF BUSHIRE.

age, where all the Jews, men, women, and children, came to see me. I cannot forget the hours I passed there, and how glad they were when I told them that we must believe in the coming of the Messiah. Here for fifty minutes I was preaching a Gospel sermon, and I afterwards visited all their huts and shops. On my return from Bushire, I stayed another day and watered the seed which I had sown, and I trust that the words preached at Borasjun will have good results to the glory of our Lord.

BUSHIRE.

Bushire is one of the great ports of the Persian Gulf. It belongs to Persia, and is of utmost importance on account of the import and export trade of the south of Persia, which passes through it. In 1866, Bushire was bombarded by British men-of-war, and became

from the heat. Ninety per cent. of the population have bad eyes, and a good many are blind on account of the heat and dust.

Once a week one of the steamers of the "British Indian Steam Navigation Company" calls at Bushire, bringing mails and passengers from Bombay.

There is also a "Persian Steam Navigation Company," who have five steamers which carry merchandise and passengers from Bushire to Bombay, Kurrachee, and Bussorah. Occasionally steamers from other countries in Europe come to Bushire, but the merchandise is mostly transported by English ships.

The people of Bushire are very dark-looking, most of them being negroes who have come from Africa. They are all sorry that the English evacuated the port, and they still hope their town

will fall again under British administration. In a few years' time Bushire will cease to be a great port, because the River Karun, will be ready for navigation, and will make Mohammera the trading port of the south of Persia.

THE JEWS OF BUSHIRE.

The Jewish colony of Bushire numbers only 2,000, with two separate quarters and four synagogues.

They are very well off, being great merchants and bankers. The bankers are not able to do so much business now on account of the "Imperial Bank of Persia" having opened a branch office there.

The Jews do not suffer much persecution on account of the European protection which they enjoy, and consequently they are not on good terms with Missionaries who visit them. A good number trade with their co-religionists of India and England, and do business also with the Mohammedans of Bushire, Bussorah, and Bagdad.

They are not on the whole learned; they have two rabbis and two shochets, who make a good deal of money amongst them. The rabbis are not Talmudists, and seldom read the Bible to their congregation, but when they preach they always speak about their departed pious wise men and rabbis.

I spent nine days at Bushire. The Colporteur of the British and Foreign Bible Society helped me by introducing me to the chief rabbi, and to many other merchants with whom I held religious conversations. On the Saturday I visited all the synagogues, and asked permission to preach, but was refused at every

one.

I visited many Jewish houses and shops, but in very few could I speak about the crucified Saviour. In one house I was very badly abused, and had to leave at once.

I cannot give an encouraging account of my labours at Bushire, but I trust God will bless my visit there, and that the word spoken will stir up the hearts of some to come forward and seek the Lord.

May all who read about this journey pray for the children of Israel scattered in Persia, that God may open their eyes to understand the wonderful things out of His law!"

THE TEMPORAL RELIEF FUND.

The Temporal Relief Fund for baptized and inquiring Jews is at a very low ebb at the present time, and the Committee most earnestly appeal for donations to the same. This Fund is, from the circumstances of the case, an absolute essential to Jewish Missions, and deserves hearty and thorough support from all who love the work.

JERUSALEM NOTES.

FROM the journals of the Rev. J. E. Hanauer we make the following extracts:

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"Attended Sabbath Service in the synagogue of the Mograbin (North African) Jews, but though I was received with most marked politeness (several of the boys coming and kissing my hand before leaving the house of prayer), yet, as soon as the service ended, the congregation dispersed so suddenly that I was unable to get a conversation started. In the afternoon I was able to set forth the fundamental doctrines with great freedom, first in Arabic, and then a little later on in German, to two large groups of Jews who, whilst waiting till the Turkish military band should begin playing in the open space in front of the barracks, came to visit and inspect our Church. There were more than thirty persons in all, and they listened attentively and without gainsaying to what I had to say. I was told afterwards by the sexton that, after they left the church, and even when the band had struck up, several of them remained in the Missiou Compound discussing amongst themselves what I had said..

"I have been much cheered and encouraged by the intelligent interest which the German-speaking inmates of the Enquirers' Home and House of Industry, who attend the Hebrew Morning Service, held daily in Christ Church, have shown in the instruction I gave them. I have more than once heard from others who have watched them, that they very frequently discuss amongst themselves at home what I have said during the said instruction, or in my sermons at the German Services n Sunday afternoon. I have had the privilege of preparing oue of them, who was admitted into the Church by Baptism on March 12th, for that Holy Ordinance, aud three, including the same, for their Confirmation, which took place together with that of others, on Easter Even (April 1st). I have also had a good many opportunities of speaking to Jewish women at Mothers' Meetings, chiefly at Miss Barlee's. During the past week I have greatly enjoyed taking the daily Children's Service at 9 a.m. in Christ Church, and was very much pleased with the intelligent ready answers, both of boys and girls, to the questions I put whilst catechising them, and to the amount of Scripture knowledge they displayed. One day, just before the closing of the Girls' Day School for the Easter holidays, I was asked to step in and be present at the examination. The way in which the children answered the questions put to them, especially as to the typical and spiritual significance of the Paschal Sacrifice, and the blood sprinkled on the lintel and door-posts of the houses of the Israelites, was most satisfactory and encouraging.

"During Passover week I paid a visit to a Jewish acquaintance,

He received me with great cordiality, and offered me refreshments. Before tasting I said a short grace in Hebrew. This so pleased him and those present that I had a glorious opportunity of speaking of the great Israelitish Passover-joy as typical of the greater Christian Easter gladness. In the course of my work I have come across two or three who are secret believers, but have not had the grace and courage given them to confess their faith openly. There are, besides, many who read the New Testament with intelligence and interest.

"In the course of a Missionary visit to Hebron, in company with Dr. Wheeler, I also had a good many precious opportunities for declaring the unsearchable riches of Christ both to Jews and Moslems. Though the weather was very cold and wet, a great many people came to see the doctor, including the Sephardim community. The Rabbi himself asked the doctor to call on him

reward. Dr. Wheeler and I spent some time in hunting for a better house than that now occupied by the Dispensary, and in a better situation, so as to make it possible for us to lodge in it instead of having to go to the Russian hospice which is very far from our daily work in the town, and therefore inconvenient. We were begged by many of the Jews to ask the Society to open a School in Hebron.

"This afternoon a large body of Jews passed up the street leading by the Citadel and Christ Church Premises towards the Armenian Convent. They were dancing, shouting, and singing in front of and around two large new rolls of the Law, which were being taken in pomp to be solemnly deposited in the "Ark" of one of the Synagogues. Whilst this was going on, an attendant every now and then sprinkled rosewater and perfumes over the richly-embroidered velvet covering in which the holy books were

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for the purpose of a consultation with the local Jewish doctor as to his health, which he believed to be bad. Altogether about a hundred and twenty patients were treated. I was obliged to use a great deal of discretion in the distribution of books and tracts, as, almost immediately after reaching Hebron, I was informed at the Russian hospice (where, as there is no longer a hotel, we were obliged to put up) that quite recently some one had distributed a large number of books amongst the Jews at Hebron, and that all had been destroyed. In consequence of this, I made a bargain with everyone who received a New Testament that if, on the occasion of my next visit, he showed me the book whole and in a fairly good condition, and could besides show that he had studied it by answering questions on St. Matthew's Gospel, I would give him a Pentateuch and Haphtorah as a

encased. It was a noteworthy fact and a sign of the times that though many Moslems and Christians were looking on with interest and curiosity as the procession thus traversed the most public street of the Holy City, not a word of insult or ridicule was uttered. Such a Jewish procession would have been an impossibility in this part of Jerusalem a few years ago, but the condition of things is very rapidly changing, and Jerusalem is fast becoming a Jewish city again. The marks of outward reverence for the letter of God's Word, and the parchment upon which it is inscribed, afforded me an opportunity of speaking with one or two individuals about the sad neglect of, and indifference too often shown by the Jews to the real spirit and object of its teaching.

"Visited Hospital where several Hebrew Christians are lying

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