the Gentiles, who hate the truth. And if it should please God to grant us through you a safe return to our home and office, we shall be, as it were, drowned in the sea of your bounty, and be enabled to recompense you in any way, since your help will bind us in obligation to you for ever. But the reward of the merciful is with God, nor shall even a cup of cold water be forgotten by Him. On this subject we would repeat to you the words of the righteous Job, saying: Have pity upon us, have pity upon us, ye our friends, and according to your ability help us; for the wise man saith: that the friend is known in adversity. And let this much suffice for your love. Finally, may the Lord Jesus guard and protect you. Amen.
"Written on Friday, the 30th day of Tammooz, in the city of Mosul, in the house of the presbyter George your deputy, in the year of our Lord 1843, and of the Grecian Era 2154, by the weak hands of the sinful presbyter Auraham of Tyari, the servant and archdeacon of Mar Shimoon."
l. s.
Sir Stratford Canning having been made acquainted with the untoward condition of the mountain Nestorians, used all his efforts with the Porte to obtain a cessation of hostilities and the immediate release of the captives. Mr. Rassam, on his part, zealously carried out the instructions of his Excellency, by pressing upon the local authorities the duty of preventing any further slaughter, and by doing all in his power to alleviate the distresses of this unfortunate people. Mohammed Pasha, however, refused to interfere, stating that the Coords had acted under orders from the Pasha of Erzeroom. The Pasha of Baghdad, on being applied to on the subject, directed the Pasha of Mosul to demand the slaves from Bedr Khan Beg; this he refused to do, saying that that functionary ought to make the demand himself. Thus the task was shifted from one to the other, while the poor Nestorians were languishing in captivity at Jezeerah. Mr. Rassam himself wrote to Ismael Pasha, whose family was living upon his bounty at Mosul, begging him to intercede for the release of Mar Shimoon's brothers, sister, and two other female relations. The Coord testified his gratitude
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