192 
CHAP. 
IV. 
' v ' 
BAKTCHESERAI, 
not in manuscript, but in a printed version, for 
the use of the schools’. In their synagogues, 
with the exception of the Books of Moses, every 
thing was in manuscript. The Rabbi asked 
if we had any of their sect, KaraT, in England; 
a question we could not answer. He said there 
were few in Holland. The etymology of their 
name is uncertain. The difference between their 
creed and that of Jews in general, according to 
the information we received from the Rabbi, 
consists in a rejection of the Talmud ; a disregard 
to every kind of tradition; to all Rabbinical 
writings or opinions ; to all marginal interpo- 
lations of the text of Scripture ; and, in a 
measure of their rule of faith by the pure letter 
of the Law. They pretend to have the text of 
the Old Testament in its most genuine state. 
Being desirous to possess one of their Bibles, 
the Rabbi, who seemed gratified by the circum- 
stance, permitted us to purchase a beautiful 
manuscript copy, written upon vellum, about 
four hundred years old ; but having left this 
volume in the Crimea, to be forwarded by way 
of Petersburg, it was never afterwards recovered. 
fl) The reason given by the Haiti for the omission of the Books of 
Moses in their manuscript copies, was, that the Pentateuch, being in 
constant use for the instruction of their children, was reserved apart, 
that the whole volume might not be liable to the injuries it would 
thereby sustain. 
