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._ 73 CHAPTER VIII. _Re-opening of the School in Beirut._ 97 CHAPTER IX. _Luciya Shekkur._ 114 CHAPTER X. _Raheel._ 120 CHAPTER XI. _Hums._ 140 CHAPTER XII. _Miriam the Aleppine._ 151 CHAPTER XIII. _Modern Syrian Views with regard to Female Education._ 158 CHAPTER XIV. _Bedawin Arabs._ 180 CHAPTER XV. _Woman between Barbarism and Civilization._ 191 CHAPTER XVI. _Opinions of Protestant Syrians with regard to the Work of American Women in Syria._ 200 CHAPTER XVII. _Other Labors for Women and Girls in this Field._ 204 CHAPTER XVIII. _The Amount of Biblical Instruction given in Mission Schools._ 215 CHAPTER XIX. _The Children's Chapter._ 233 THE WOMEN OF THE ARABS. CHAPTER I. STATE OF WOMEN AMONG THE ARABS OF THE JAHILIYEH, OR THE "TIMES OF THE IGNORANCE."