a people of Syria, so called in the country, but styled in Delisle's maps Enfarians, and in those of Danville, Nafaritis. The territory occupied by these Ansaria is that chain of mountains which ex- tends from Antakia to the rivulet called Nahr-el-Kabir, or the Great River. The history of their origin, though little known, is yet instructive. The follow- ing account is from the Bibliothèque Orientale of Affe- mani, a writer who has drawn his materials from the best authorities.

"In the year of the Greeks 1202 (A.D. 891), there lived at the village of Nafar, in the environs of Koufa, an old man, who, from his fasting, his con- tinual prayers, and his poverty, passed for a saint: seve- ral of the common people declaring themselves his par- tizans, he selected from among them twelve disciples to propagate his doctrine. But the commandant of the place, alarmed at his proceeding, seized the old man, and confined him in prison. In this reverse of fortune, his situation excited the pity of a girl who was slave to the gaoler, and she determined to give him his liberty: an opportunity soon offered to effect her design. One day when the gaoler was gone to bed intoxicated, and in a profound sleep, she gently took the keys from under his pillow, and after opening the door to the old man, returned them to their place un- perceived by her master: the next day when the goa- ler went to visit his prisoner, he was extremely astonish- ed at finding he had made his escape, and the more so since he could perceive no marks of violence. He therefore judiciously concluded he had been delivered by an angel, and eagerly spread the report, to avoid the reprehension he merited; the old man, on the other hand, affected the same thing to his disciples, and preached his doctrines with more earnestness than ever. He even wrote a book, in which, among other things, he says, 'I, such a one, of the village of Nafar, have seen Christ who is the word of God, who is Ahmad, son of Mohammad, son of Hanafa, of the race of Ali; who also is Gabriel: and he said to me, Thou art he who readeth (with understanding): thou art the man who speaketh truth; thou art the camel which pre- serveth the faithful from wrath; thou art the beast which carrieth their burden; thou art the (Holy) Spirit, and John, the son of Zachary. Go, and preach to men that they make four genuflexions in praying; two before the rising of the sun, and two before his setting, turning their faces towards Jerusalem: and let them say, three times, God Almighty! God Most High! God Most Great! Let them observe only the se- cond and third festival; let them fast but two days an- nually; let them not wash the prepuce, nor drink beer, but as much wine as they think proper; and lastly, let them abstain from the flesh of carnivorous animals.' This old man passing into Syria, propagated his opi- nions among the lower orders of the country-people, numbers of whom believed in him: And after a few years he went away, and nobody ever knew what be- came of him."

Such was the origin of these Ansarians, who are, for the most part, inhabitants of the mountains before men- tioned.

The Ansaria are divided into several tribes or sects; among which are distinguished the Shamia, or adorers of the sun; the Kelbia, or worshippers of the dog; and the Kadmoufia, who are said to pay a particular ho- mage to that part in women which corresponds to the priapus.

Many of the Ansaria believe in the metempsycho- sis; others reject the immortality of the soul; and in general, in that civil and religious anarchy, that igno- rance and rudeness which prevail among them, these peasants adopt what opinions they think proper, fol- lowing the feet they like best, and frequently attaching themselves to none.

Their country is divided into three principal di- stricts named by the chiefs called Mokaddamim. Their tribute is paid to the Pacha of Tripoli, from whom they annually receive their title. Their mountains are in general not so steep as those of Lebanon, and conse- quently are better adapted to cultivation; but they are also more exposed to the Turks, and hence doubters, it happens, that with greater plenty of corn, tobacco, wines, and olives, they are more thinly inhabited than those of their neighbours the Maronites and the Druses.