within the degrees prohibited by the Nestorian canons. From several reports which had reached me, I had been led to imagine that the Nestorians in this district were far more numerous than they really are. The cause of this decrease is to be referred, not only to the secession of many of their numbers to Romanism, but also to the severe oppression to which all classes of the people have been and are still subjected from their tyrannical rulers. Kasha Mendu informed me, that six years ago there were no less than fourteen flourishing villages of Nestorians in the valley of the Supna, the greater portion of which are now desolate, without an inhabitant. The whole Nestorian population of this district does not now exceed 100 families, besides a few villages which still remain steadfast to their ancient faith to the west of Daoodia, in the Mezuriyeh, and in the country bordering upon the Great Zab river. But what else can be expected, left as these poor people are without episcopal superintendence? Mar Shimoon has had too many troubles to contend with in Coordistan to attend to that district, which has always been considered within the jurisdiction of Mar Elîa, the Nestorian Patriarch of the plains. Amedia was left without a Bishop for years before it was filled by Mutran Elîa, as has been recorded in a former chapter; and since his return to the Chaldean Church, no successor has been appointed to fill his place. In consequence of this neglect, all the Nestorians of the Supna, and of the entire district south of the Tcah Meteenah, are left without a head, and Mar Yeshua-yau, of Doori, who used occasionally to ordain priests for these parts, is getting too infirm, and the Papal party too strong for him to attempt to do any thing towards benefiting the Nestorians beyond the limits of his own diocese in the Berwari.
During the day I visited the little oratory of the Nestorians not far from Kasha Mendu's dwelling. It is a small room in a private house, the Christians never having as yet been permitted to build a church within the town of Amedia. The room was dark and dirty, and every thing which it contained bespoke the poverty and wretchedness of the few remaining Nestorians of the place. One third of the apartment was partitioned off by a ragged curtain, and formed the bema; a
