Liierary Discoveries in India- 229 



are placed on each side of the altar. Most of the churches 

 are built of a reddish stone, squared and polished at the 

 tjuarry ; and are of durable construction, the front wall of 

 the largest edifices being six feet thick. The bells of the 

 churches are cast in the founderies of Travancore. Some 

 of them are of large dimensions, and have inscriptions in 

 Syriac and Malayalim. In approaching a town in the even- 

 ing, the sound of the bells may be heard at a distance 

 amongst the hills : a circumstance which causes the British 

 traveller to forget for a moment that he is in Hlndostan, 

 and reminds him of another country. When Dr. Buchanan 

 arrived at the remote churches, he was informed by the in- 

 habitants that no European had, to their knowledge, visited 

 the place before. The Romish priests do not travel thither, 

 there being no church of their communion in that quarter. 



The number of Syrian churches is greater than has been 

 supposed. There are at this time fifty-five churches in 

 Alalayala*, acknowledging the patriarch of Antioch. The 

 church was erected by the present bishop, in 1793. 



The Syrian Christians are not Nestorians. Formerlv, 

 indeed, they had bishops of that communion ; but the li- 

 turgy of the present church is derived from that of the early 

 church of Antioch, called Lihirgia Jacoli Jpostoli. They 

 are usually denominated Jacoliice ; but they differ in cere- 

 monial from the church of that name in Syria, and indeed 

 from any existing church in the world. Their proper de- 

 signation, and that which is sanctioned by their own use, is 

 Syrian Christians, or The Syrian Chitrch ofMalayala. 



The doctrines of the Syrian church are contained in a very 

 few articles ; and are not at variance, in essentials, with the 

 doctrines of the church of England. Their bishops and 

 metropolitan, after conferring with his clergy on the sub- 

 ject, delivered the following opinion : " That an union with 

 the English church, or at least such a connection as should 

 appear to both churches practicable and expedient, would be 



• Malayala comprehends the mountains, and the whole rcfrion within them, 

 from Cape Cogmorin to Capo lUi, whereas the province of Malahar, common 

 ly»o called, containj only the northern districts, not including the coimtry of 

 I'ravancore. 



P 3 a happy 



