Publisher's Synopsis
"Are the Ten Tribes of Israel lost or missing?... Jews may have found their way to America." - The Eclectic Review (1829)
"Israel Worsley worked over the material gathered by Boudinot and Smith, and added something." -Narrative and Critical History of America (1889)
"Established some very curious coincidences between the Beni-Israel, and some of the American tribes." -The Congregational Magazine, 1828
They have a tradition prevailing universally, that they came into that country at the Northwest corner;
- They acknowledge One God, the Great Spirit, who created all things seen and unseen-the name by which this being is known to them is ale, the old Hebrew name of God; he is also called yehovah, sometimes yah, and also abba;
- They are distinctly heard to sing with their religious dances, halleluyah or praise to yah;
- They keep annual feasts which resemble those of the Mosaic ritual;
- There is a sort of jubilee kept by some of them;
- They have cities of refuge;
- In their temples is a holy place into which none may enter but the priest;
- The priests garb is a humble imitation of the High Priest's robes, with a breast plate and other ornaments;
- They have a succession of priests, who are inducted into office by purification and anointing;
- They had once a holy book, which while they kept, things went well with them; they lost it, and in consequence of the loss fell under the displeasure of the Great Spirit; but they believe they shall one day regain it.