arguments use their influence and authority in favor of adding a regular New Testament lesson to the school curriculum.

(3) It will be many years yet before Bible distribution in this land is freed from the practical difficulty arising from the illiteracy of the people. There are still sections of territory where a man who can read is regarded as a marvel. The spiritual wants of such people do not materially affect Bible sales. But those wants should not be and are not totally disregarded. Bible readers under the direction of the various missions do somewhat to break to them the bread of life. We often hear of cases where a single man or woman uses his own gift of reading for the benefit of his village. The mission schools are doing an important work in sending forth in every direction graduates who are to become most useful to the ignorant masses about them. And so in one way or another God's word is getting into the minds and hearts of many, in whose hands it would be of no avail. We may thank God for what has been done, and with faith pray for yet greater results in the future.

In conclusion we need only say that we look forward into the work of '92, not without apprehension, but with faith and hope. And we only echo the unanimous and hearty voice of all engaged in Bible work within the bounds of the Levant Agency, in praying that God's blessing may crown that and all similar work more abundantly than ever before.

PERSIA.

Mr. Whipple sends the following paragraphs:

During the past twelve months Persia has been passing through a novel experience which is entirely outside of the ordinary routine. Two innovations have destroyed the equilibrium of the people, the issuing of paper money by the European bank recently established here, and the tobacco monopoly. Though the Persians did not take kindly to the first, there was no vigorous protest, for the paper currency has not been put in general circulation, and does not affect the masses. Sooner or later it will call out objections. Only once before was such a thing attempted, some six centuries ago, and then it caused such a row that the paper currency had to be withdrawn, and the Vizier who introduced it was killed by a mob. Until recently, no one has been intrepid enough to repeat the experiment. The Persians to this day prefer solid metal, even though it is highly inconvenient to count and assort hundreds of pieces of coin of Persian, Turkish, and Russian manufacture, some of them representing only one sixth of a cent, and others, seven, ten, fourteen, twenty, and forty cents. But since the establishment of the bank with branches in the principal cities, some improvement has been introduced, and the coins of the neighboring empires are melted and recoined, while the smaller denominations have gone out of use.

But the tobacco monopoly has excited intense opposition, which has been augmented by the Moslem ecclesiastics, who have preached against it in the mosques and spoken about it in the bazaars to such

a degree that the people have been ready to rise up in rebellion. Grave apprehensions were felt lest there should be a mob and a general massacre of all Christians-the Armenians as well as Europeans and Americans. Threats were openly made in Tabreez that an attempt to enforce the monopoly would be followed by a declaration of a religious war by the ecclesiastics, which would mean the extermination of all Christians. For months this anxious state of affairs has continued, and it has sometimes seemed as if only a match was needed to touch off the charge.

As might be expected, this state of things has been detrimental to all branches of business, and has especially affected our work, for people have been afraid to buy the Scriptures even if they had any inclination to do so.

But on the other hand, I am glad to say that the intemperate tirade against foreigners and Christianity has met with a rebound and has re-acted in our favor. Many intelligent Moslems who have come into contact with Christians, have learned that with all their imperfections they are a long distance in advance of Moslem nations. Besides, they know very well that the exaggerated stories told about missionaries and Franks are false, and some of them have had the boldness to expose them publicly, and put to shame the men who have been imposing on the credulity of the lower classes. These troubles, also, have brought to the front, as never before, the large number of Bible readers, who have had their eyes opened by the study of the Scriptures to the contrast between Islam and Christianity. While they have not spoken openly of this for fear of the rulers, their confidence in the religion of their fathers has been waning, and the way has been preparing for the reception of Christ's. kingdom, when more favorable opportunities offer.

Oroomiah Station.-One colporteur is employed for two or three months in the year to canvass among the Nestorian population, and another for the same length of time among the Moslems. A capable man has charge of the bookstore in the bazaar, and supplies with books those who come from the many villages on the plains. Another colporteur is constantly employed to travel among the mountain villages and districts of West Koordistan, where is a population of Nestorians, said to number 100,000 souls. He has a hard field, and the Turkish government, under whose jurisdiction the greater part of his field lies, throws every possible obstacle in his way. Sometimes the local officers confiscate his stock of books, but he returns, replenishes his stock, and starts out again. Probably the books seized are not destroyed, but are sold for a small amount or given away. We should not choose the Osmanli authorities as our agents for the distribution of the Scriptures, but it is an inexpensive way, and though they have no such intention, the books go into the hands of the people.

Teheran Station.—Our work here makes some progress, notwithstanding the difficulties in the way. We have three men employed through the year, two of them converts from Islam, and the other

a Christian Jew, who labors especially among the Jews and quite successfully. Last year he made three important tours, visiting the districts and cities of Goom, Golpighan, Khonsar, and Darakhtak. He canvassed in all one hundred and fifty villages, towns, and cities. Sometimes he encounters opposition and violence, but he has escaped thus far with only a beating and the loss of a tooth or two. But, withal, he has made friends, and has led the people to such investigation and discussion, that the leaders in one community addressed a letter to the American Minister asking that he would have this colporteur withdrawn, because, they said, he was destroying their faith. One of the Moslem colporteurs works in the city, and the other has taken long tours in the direction of Meshad, Hamadan, and Karaghan. We had an intelligent man in the city book store, but I am sorry to say that he has been drawn off from our service by the tobacco monopoly. A new man succeeds him, and we trust that in time he will fill the place. Murza David is in charge of our book room in the sacred city of Meshad.

Tabreez Station. In this district I have located a colporteur at each of the following places, Khoi, Sonjbulakh, and Maragha, with instructions to canvass the city well and take short trips to the suburbs and villages in the vicinity.

Another colporteur travels with the evangelist employed by the Mission. I have also two Armenians in the bazaars in Tabreez and one in Zenjan, to whom I allow a commission on their sales by way of compensation. An Armenian merchant of Karadagh, a region on the confines of Russia, gratified me by his voluntary offer to keep the Scriptures on sale in his store. The success of the experiment justifies the continuance of it for another year. Two men have spent part of their time in Tabreez, making tours of two months at a time to distant villages. Two others have started on a four months' tour to Resht, near the Caspian Sea, and in returning, they will follow the coast line and then turn off to Ardebil and Sarab. Two more have gone to Karadagh, to canvass among the Armenians who are ignorant of the gospel and need it very much. The colporteur in Khoi has just returned from a journey of four months to the important districts of Karakoyoon and Makoo, where he succeeded in selling well, and also placed a few copies of the Scriptures in the hands of the leading Koordish chiefs.

The work in the Hamadan and Salmas stations has been more limited. At each station one man has given his whole time to the work. One of our oldest and most successful colporteurs, Shamasha Syad, has been taken to his home on high. He has been in the employ of the Society most of the time for a quarter of a century, and has done faithful service, making extensive tours in different directions in Persia and as far as to Bagdad.

I am happy to report the completion of the revision of the Bible in Modern Syriac, the printing of which is going on in America under the supervision of Dr. Labaree. It will be a lasting blessing to the Nestorians who have so great reverence and love for the word of God.

I have myself made a complete tour of all the stations, having visited Teheran and Hamadan in the spring, and Oroomiah in the autumn. I travelled on horseback 1,400 miles and was absent seventyfive days. Twenty helpers have been employed most of the year.

The circulation in 1891, almost entirely by sale, though at merely nominal prices, was as follows: 370 Bibles, 1,327 Testaments, and 1,493 Portions.-A total of 3,190 volumes, for $560 39.

INDIA.

Mention was made in the last Report of an appropriation of $150 to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to meet a part of the expense of a tour into Bengal, about to be undertaken by the Rev. N. Madsden, of the Pakur Mission. The full report of the completed journey has not been received, but Mr. Madsden wrote in December, that he had already visited over 400 villages, nearly every one of which contained some persons who could read, and that he had sold nearly 10,000 volumes; about 4,000 of which were Bibles or parts of the Bible. The Books were chiefly in Bengalee, Nagri, or Urdu.

No report has been received of the expenditure of a grant of $250, made to the Arcot Mission of the Reformed Church.

SIAM AND LAOS.

In beginning his second annual report, Mr. Carrington alludes to Siam's need of the Bible, and gives some illustrations of the turning of men's minds towards the light which comes only from the Holy Scriptures.

Not long since (he says), the head priest of a Buddhist temple, above Ayuthia, said to me: "I see so much wickedness and sin among the Siamese, that I begin to doubt concerning this religion." Then he bought ten copies of various books of the Bible, remarking that he would like to consult me again about Christianity. At Lophaburee, a man, past middle age, came to buy some of our books, promising if he found them true, to adopt the Christian faith. Frequently, when I ask Buddhist priests where they expect to go at death, they say they do not know. They need that word which tells of the life to come, and of the true God. This the Bible Society is giving them.

Mr. Carrington speaks feelingly of the kind co-operation of the missionaries of the Presbyterian Board in

Siam and Laos, whose efficient aid has been of great ser

vice. He says:

At Lakawn, Laos, our work has been promoted by the Rev. Hugh Taylor, who is our correspondent there. At Cheung Mai, Miss Lizzie L. Westervelt is our efficient and earnest representative. Rev. James B. Thompson, M.D., who is a firm believer that above all books to be put into the hands of the people is the Bible, has charge of our stock at Rajaburee, and at Petchaburee, Rev. W. G. McClure has rendered similar service. The Rev. J. B. Dunlap supplies the calls made at the Mission Press for the Scriptures, and the Rev. F. L. Snyder, a young brother full of zeal and energy, takes a deep interest in furnishing the people with the Scriptures; and, in addition to his study in acquiring the language, he has done good service in Bible distribution.

TOURING.-One of our trials is the limited number of native workers. We have not been able to increase our colporteur force, but our two men have made six tours. I myself have made four tours, accompanied each time by one or the other of my sons, who have been not only company to me, but a real help in the work. Many cities. and villages have thus been reached, and many books have been sold. Hundreds of persons have been met who would not otherwise have come into contact with the missionary. In Bangkok, also, I have spent much time visiting the streets, temples, alleys, and byways, and offering the Scriptures to the people. Among the things I notice are these: (1) All along the rivers, which are the routes of travel, the Buddhist temples are in bad condition; few of them are being repaired, and still fewer new ones are being erected. (2) Signs of advancement are shown by the presence of river steamers, telegraph lines, post-offices, and schools. Many of the schools are in the temple grounds, but they are taught by teachers paid by the government. (3) The desire of the people to obtain books, which, however, owing ́to their slender means, must be sold at very low prices. (4) I am impressed with the fact that the proportion of women who can read has greatly increased, and that so many of them buy our books. (5) The people and officers meet us with uniform kindness; and (6) now and then there is an inquirer-a sure prophecy of greater things to come.

PRINTING.-Mrs. McGilvary, of Cheung Mai, has completed her translation of the Gospel of Matthew in Laos, and we have printed an edition of 2,000 copies in the Siamese letter. It is hoped that under God's blessing this will accomplish much good among the Laos. The Mission Press has been busier than ever before, during the past year, in printing our editions, as our stock has become much reduced. Hitherto we have never been able to bind in one volume all the books of the Bible, owing to a want of uniformity in the size of the pages; but in future we shall keep that end in view, and print uniformly in octavo. Besides the Laos Matthew, we have printed in Siamese, Matthew, Mark, Luke, Jonah and Micah, Proverbs, and Acts, in all 39,509 volumes of 2,533,621 pages. This work has called for much of