273.
Five months before the date of this letter, and after the return of Mr.Badger to Mosul, Dr.Grant received a letter from Mar Shimon, filled with Oriental protestations of undiminished attachment, and with urgent invitations to revisit the mountains.

He went, accompanied by Mr.Laurie.They were kindly received as before, and spent several weeks with him, but found the Nestorians in constant dread of attacks from the Koords.
Meanwhile the reports, which had been put in circulation with regard to Dr.Grant's operations at Asheta, in the way of building, were communicated by the Pasha of Mosul to the Pasha of Erzroom, and by him to Constantinople.

It is not probable that the reports were believed anywhere; but as the government was then intent upon subjugating that portion of the empire, they were unwilling to have the mountaineers enlightened and elevated.

Accordingly they refused firmans to Dr.Azariah Smith and Rev.Edwin E.Bliss, in case they were going as missionaries to the Nestorians, for these would pledge to them the protection of the government; though they would grant them passports to go where they pleased.

The Turkish minister even declared to Mr.Brown, our Charge d'affaires at the Porte, that they did not wish schools to be opened in the mountains.
In June, Dr.Grant, by special invitation, visited Bader Khan Bey, the most powerful chief in Koordistan.