'Narrative of a Residence in Koordistan, and on the Site of Ancient Nineveh; with Journal of a Voyage down the Tigris to Bagdad and an Account of a Visit to Shirauz and Persepolis.' [‎59] (86/450)

• xh ch. xiv.] stranghelo inscriptions. 59
itepo bably it belonged to the Nestorians. There are many
Kad old stranghelo* inscriptions ; but the kind oi half-
andl priest, half-servant who showed it to us could not in-
carc formme the age of it. A Dominican missionary. Padre
times Gaetano, is buried there a.d . 1753. The convent is
ni t more recent than the church. The terrace of the
mted church was clean and agreeable. In the spring it is
3 l)i( a favourite resort of the principal Turks of Mousul,
f St who probably come here to indulge themselves in the
uton unlimited use of wine, to which the people of Mousul
rg re . of all religions are much addicted.
On our return we kept easterly through the high
form- country, which is, as I said before, furrowed by the
> cod water making its way to the lower banks of the
[( 1 ^ river. Its surface is completely covered with pebbles,
n ^ among which I noticed many flints. We did not
j ),!). observe anything hereabouts which could positively
frag- p ron ounced to be a ruin. The river throws out
g oin( several branches in the low country,
about ^ re entered the inclosure at station No. 3, and pro-
^ ceeded, as before, to the Khausser under Koyunjuk.
uatet * ( jig , erent sec t s of Syrian Christians do not use the same
[ike 8 character in writing their ancient language. That employed by the
e-Ul, Maronites and some others is nearly the Syriac letter of European
printed books. It is said to have been introduced by the celebrated
3pp0' divine and historian Abul Faraj, or Abulfaragius, Bishop of Seleu-
^liicli c i a » thirteenth century. The truth is. however, that it was
formed by gradual changes from the old Syriac alphabet, called
Stranghelo or Estramjhelo, which is of considerable antiquity, and
pro- in which, of course, the most valuable MSS. are written.—
Communicated hy a Friend to the Ed.