a people of Syria, so called in the country, but styled in De l'Isle's maps Anfarians, and in those of D'Anville, Naffarins. The territory occupied by these Anfaria is that chain of mountains which extends 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 following account is from the Bibliothèque Orientale de Assemani, 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 Kouta, an old man, who, from his fastings, his continual prayers, and his poverty, palled for a faint. Several of the common people declaring themselves his partizans, he selected from among them twelve disciples to propagate his doctrine. But the commandant of the place, alarmed at his proceedings, 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 unperceived by her master: the next day when the gaoler went to visit his prisoner, he was extremely astonished 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 Mohammed, son of Hanafa, of the race of Ali; who Anfarians who also is Gabriel: and he said to me, Thou art he who readeth (with understanding); thou art the man who speakest truth; thou art the camel which preserveth 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 genuflections 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 second and third festival; let them fast but two days annually; 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 opinions 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 became of him."

Such was the origin of these Anfarians, who are, for the most part, inhabitants of the mountains before mentioned.

The Anfaria 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 Kadmosia, who are said to pay a particular homage to that part in women which corresponds to the priapus.

Many of the Anfaria believe in the metempsychosis; others reject the immortality of the soul; and in general, in that civil and religious anarchy, that ignorance and rudeness which prevail among them, these peasants adopt what opinions they think proper, following the sect they like best, and frequently attaching themselves to none.

Their country is divided into three principal districts, farmed by the chiefs called Mobaddamim. 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 consequently are better adapted to cultivation; but they are also more exposed to the Turks; and hence, doubtless, 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.