48 HOEMCZD EASSAM, ESQ.^ ON BIBLICAL LANDS^ THEIR 



■witla St. Mali is held as tlie great saint of the Chaldean^ 

 church. 



Having disposed of the language and homestead of the- 

 present Chaldeans, I must notice a few facts in connexion 

 with history which Avill show that the present highland 

 Chaldeans and the so-called Nestorians are inhabiting the 

 same country now as they did in the time of Xenophon about 

 twenty-three centuries ago. The Chaldeans, Armenians, 

 and Coords whom he met on his march with Cyrus through 

 Assyria and Media are occupying now the same mountainous 

 regions as formerly. As his history is interesting, I do not 

 think it is out of place here to quote it according to its 

 English translation by the Revs. J. S. Watson and Henry 

 Dale. In his Anabasis (Book iv, ch. iii, cl. 3) he says : — 



" At daybreak, however, they perceived on the other side 

 of the river a body of cavalry, in complete armour, ready to 

 prevent them from crossing, and on the high banks above 

 the cavalry, another of foot prepared to hinder them from 

 entering Armenia. These were Armenians, Mardians, and 

 Chaldeans, mercenary troops of Orontes and Artuchas. The 

 Chaldeans were said to be a free people, and warlike ; for 

 arms they had long shields and spears. The high banks on 

 which these forces were drawn up, were three or four 

 hundred feet from the river; and the only road tha.t Avas- 

 visible was one that led upward, apparently a work of art. 

 Here the Greeks endeavoured to cross, but as, on making 

 trial, the water rose above their breasts, and the bed of the 

 river was rough with large and slippery stones, and as it 

 was impossible for them to carry their arms in the water, or 

 if they attempted to do so, the river swept them away 

 (while if any of them took their arms on their heads, they 

 became exposed to the arrows and other missiles of the 

 enemy) ; they in consequence retreated, and encamped at the 

 side of the river, 



" They now perceived the Carduchi assembled in great 

 numbers under arms on the spot where they themselves had 

 been on the previous night. Hence great despondency was 

 felt by the Greeks, as they knew the difficulty of passing the 

 river, and saw the Carduchi ready to attack them if they 

 attempted to cross." 



In his Cyropcvdia (Book iii, ch. ii, cl. i) Xenophon also gives, 

 the following account of the races which inhabited, in his 

 time, the highlands of Assyria and Media : — 



" The next day Cyrus, taking Tigranes with him, and the- 



