ve in a dunghill!

For the historical statements of this volume, I am indebted to the files
of the Missionary Herald, the Annual Reports of the Syria Mission, the
archives of the mission in Beirut, the memoir of Mrs. Sarah L. Smith,
and private letters from Mrs. Whiting, Mrs. De Forest, and various
missionary and native friends.

Information on the general work of the Syrian Mission may be found in
Dr. Anderson's "Missions to the Oriental churches," Rev. Isaac Bird's
"Bible Work in Bible Lands," and the pamphlet sketches of Rev. T. Laurie
and Rev. James S. Dennis.

The specimens of poetry from ancient Arabic poetesses, have been
gathered from printed and manuscript volumes, and from the lips of the
people.

Some accounts of child life in Syria and specimens of Oriental stories
and nursery rhymes have been gathered into a "Children's Chapter." They
have a value higher than that which is given by mere entertainment as
they exhibit many phases of Arab home life. The illustrations of the
volume consist of drawings from photographs by Bergheim of Jerusalem and
Bonfils of Beirut.

The pages of Arabic were electrotyped in Beirut by Mr. Samuel Hallock,
the skilful superintendent of the American Press.

I send out this record of the work carried on in Syria with deep
gratitude for all that the Lord has done, and with an ardent desire that
it may be the means of bringing this great field more vividly before the
minds of Christian people, of wakening warmer devotion to the missionary
cause, and so of hastening the time when every Arab woman shall enjoy
the honor, and be worthy of the elevation which come with faith in Him
who was first foretold as the seed of the woman.

HENRY HARRIS JESSUP.
Beirut, Syria, Nov. 28, 1872.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
PAGE
_State of Women among the Arabs of the Jahiliyeh,
or the "Times of the Ignorance."_ 1

CHAPTER II.
_State of Women in the Mohammedan World._ 7

CHAPTER III.
_The Druze Religion and Druze Women._ 20

CHAPTER IV.
_Nusairiyeh._ 35

CHAPTER V.
_Chronicle of Women's Work from 1820 to 1872._ 45

CHAPTER VI.
_Mrs. Whiting's School._ 57

CHAPTER VII.
_Dr. De Forest's Work in Beirut._