those I now reveal unto thee, not less willingly will his son undertake
them. Refusal would be the first step toward betrayal.

"With this preface, O Son of Jahdai, I write without fear, and freely;
imparting, first, that it is now fifty years since I set foot upon the
shores of this Island, which, for want of a name likely to be known to
thee, I have located and described as 'In the Over-Sea. Far East.' Its
people are by nature kindly disposed to strangers, and live simply and
affectionately. Though they never heard of the Nazarene whom the world
persists in calling the Christ, it is truth to say they better illustrate
his teachings, especially in their dealings with each other, than the
so-called Christians amongst whom thy lot is cast. Withal, however, I
have become weary, the fault being more in myself than in them. Desire
for change is the universal law. Only God is the same yesterday, to-day,
and to-morrow eternally. So I am resolved to seek once more the land of
our fathers and Jerusalem, for which I yet have tears. In her perfection,
she was more than beautiful; in her ruin, she is more than sacred.

"In the execution of my design, know thou next, O Son of Jahdai, that I
despatch my servant, Syama, intrusting him to deliver this letter. When
it is put into thy hand, note the day, and see if it be not exactly one
year from this 15 May, the time I have given him to make the journey,
which is more by sea than land. Thou mayst then know I am following him,
though with stoppages of uncertain duration; it being necessary for me
to cross from India to Mecca; thence to Kash-Cush, and down the Nile to
Cairo. Nevertheless I hope to greet thee in person within six months
after Syama hath given thee this report.

"The sending a courier thus in advance is with a design of which I think
it of next importance to inform thee.