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don.But there is another body of Jews, not a colony, but a kingdom of Jews, to which this Society may also address itself ; and that is, the ten Tribes. For the Ten Tribes, so long lost, have at length been found. It has been sufficiently ascertained, by the -investigations of the learned in India, that the AfFghan and Pyran nations consist of the descendants of the Jewish tribes of the first de-scription.When I was in the south of India, I asked the black Jews, where their brethren, the great body of the Ten Tribes, were to be found ? They answered promptly, that they were to be found in the North, in the regions adjacent to Chaldea, the very country whither they were first carried into captivity. On my rettirn to Calcutta I prosecuted the inquiry, under the advantages which my 'superintendance of the college of Fort William afforded me. Sir William Jones had recorded it as his opinion, that the Affghans were Jews, and referred Co various authorities. A further investigation confirmed the judgment of thatillustrious scholar. There were AfFghan Jews in Calcutta, at the time: one of my own servants was an AfFghan. The Affghans are generally reputed by us to be Mahommedans. I asked my servant if he was a Mahommedan ? “ No,” said he, “I am a Mahommedan Jew.” I plainly discerned in his countenance the features of the London Jew. The general account of the Affghans is this : that their ancestors were Jews—that their common histories record the namesvof David, Saul, and other kings of Israel—that the Mahommedans came upon them with an invading army, and said unto them, Weare Jews as well as you; we observe circuincisio • and keep the Sabbath-; let us incorporate our nations,and be one people, and unite against the Infidels—-that they made a shew of yielding to Mahomedanism (as the Jews of Spain -and Pdrtugal pretended to;) but in process of time the ascendancy of the new re-ir ancient institutions ; their sacred books began to diminish :ame to pass at last, that in many places they could be onlyuu2yield to Christianity iigion corrupted the in number; and it lt;
Newspaper Details
Missionary Magazine
London, Middlesex, GB
Mon, Jul 16, 1810
Page 54
Full Page
Clipped by
Danica E.
JP 23 Feb 2022
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