Up  to  the  time  of  my  visit  to  Ckarass,  the  following  works
had  issued  from  the  press  of  that  place  : —

1.  A  large  Catechism  in  the  Tartar  language,  in  question  and

answer,  92  pages,  small  8vo.
2.  A  shorter  Catechism  of  seven  pages,  small  8vo.,  without

title.
3.  Endshil  diniln  sseri,  i.e.,  "  The  Essence  of  the  Religion  of


ENGLISH-SCOTCH  MISSION.
143


the  Gospel."  Printed  at  Ckarass,  1806,  14  pages,
small  8vo.
4.  Bir  dostiin  Geiamy  Mosslemaneh,  "  The  Word  of  a  Friend

to  the  Mussulmans,"  52  pages,  small  8vo.  At  the  end
are  the  words  :  "  At  Ckarass  in  1221st  year  of  the
Hhedshrah  (1806)."

5.  Issainiln  endshil  Matteinun  jassussi, "  The  Gospel  of  Jesus,

written  by  Matthew."

6.  The  Gospels  of  Mark,  Luke,  and  John,  printed  together,

in  demi  8vo.
As  these  missionaries  enjoy  the  right  of  purchasing  slaves,
they  already  possess  several  Tcherkessians  and  Tartars,  whom
they  have  instructed  in  the  precepts  of  Christianity  and
baptized,  with  the  intention  of  restoring  them  at  some  future
time  to  liberty.  Excellent  as  the  objects  and  plan  of  this
institution  may  be,  it  seems  very  doubtful  whether  it  will
ever  accomplish  the  aim  of  the  founders,  since  it  is  extremely
difficult  to  persuade  Asiatics  to  embrace  a  religion  unaccom-
panied by  external  ceremonies,  and  the  moral  part  of  all
religions  is  almost  invariably  alike.  The  missionaries  have
moreover  excited  the  animosity  of  the  neighbouring  Nogai
Tartars  by  the  conversion  of  a  person  belonging  to  one  of  the
principal  families  of  that  nation.
