162 JOURNEYS IN PERSIA LETTER xxiv

There is a High School for boys, largely attended, under
the charge of Mr. Watson, the clerical missionary, with
an Armenian Principal, Karapit, educated in the C. M. S.
school in Julfa, a very able man, and he is assisted by
several teachers. There is also a large school of Jewish
girls, who are often maltreated on their way to and
from it.

There are a flourishing medical mission and dispensary
under Dr. Alexander's charge, with a hospital nearly
finished for the more serious cases. There is another
dispensary at Sheverin, and both there and here the
number of patients is large. A small charge is made for
medicines. Mirza Sa'eed, a medical student of mature
years and remarkable capacities, occasionally itinerates in
the distant villages, and, being a learned scholar in the
Koran, holds religious disputations after his medical work
is done. He was a Moslem, and having embraced Chris-
tianity preaches its doctrines with much force and en-
thusiasm. He is popular in Hamadan, and much thought
of by the Governor in spite of his " perversion." He also
gives addresses on Christianity to the patients who
assemble at the dispensary. Any person is at liberty
to withdraw during this religious service, but few avail

themselves of the permission. Miss------- speaks on

Christianity to the female patients at Sheverin, and be-
friends them in their own homes.

The day's work here begins at six, and is not over till
9 P.M. An English class for young men is held early,
after which people on business and visitors of all sorts
and creeds are arriving and departing all day, and all are
welcome. On one day I counted forty-three, and there
were many more than these. The upper class of Persian
women announce their visits beforehand, and usually
arrive on horseback, with attendants to clear the way.
No man-servant must enter the room with tea or any-