'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎542] (633/905)

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RELIGIOUS SECTS.
[CHAP, XXI.
Modern sects. A remnant of the inhabitants who succeeded the Phoe
nicians and Canaanites may, it is supposed, still be traced
about Nabulus, and likewise amongst the Ansarians and
Ismail ians: the first, no doubt, are the descendants of the
people brought thither from Assyria by Shalmanasar and
Nebuchadnezzar ; and these are now divided into several reli
gious sects, of which the three principal are the Dositheans, the
Lebadeans, and the Gorthem : the two other branches alluded
to appear to have come from later stocks. The Ansarians,
also called Nosain, are, according to Mannert, descended from
a people who, under the name of the Nazareni, had their own
prince as late as the time of the Romans; and are still
powerful, being able to arm 12 or 15,000 men ; they are occa
sionally mixed with a few Arabs, Kurds, and Turkomans, and
occupy both slopes of the great Nosairian range, from Kal'at-
el-Hosn northwards to the southern part of the district of
Tenets of the Aleppo. The Ansaries consider Adam, Christ, and Mu-
nsanes. hammed, simply as prophets; but they regard Abel, Peter,
and especially All, as personifications of the Divinity. Many
of them believe in the metempsychosis ; but there are different
sects, such as the Shenisea, the Kelbia, and the Mokledjye ; l the
first of which, as worshippers of the sun, are connected with
the idolatry of Babylonia. Their tenets are, however, involved
in mystery, and are likely so to continue ; for in conversation
they practise the same system of deception which is, in part,
the safeguard of the Druses; by whom they are claimed as an
apostate branch. 2 It is laid down that nothing concerning
their religion is to be disclosed to strangers ; that they must
love their brethren, be charitable, refrain from theft and
swearing, and patiently endure poverty and ill treatment from
their wives.
The ismaiii. The other branch, the Ismaili, or Assassins, are less nume
rous, and their tenets no less mysterious. Kal'at-el-Masryad
is their principal seat, and, outwardly, they are Shi-ites; but
they do not believe in Muhammed ; 3 although they attend the
mosques, in order, as is supposed, to conceal from the Turks
1 Burckhardt's Travels in Syria, p. 156.
s Tyssen's Elt5mentale Arabium, p. 5, v. 55. 3 Benj. of Tudela, p. 59. "