t followed? A. The Most Excellent Prelate then directed me to
rise and be invested with a countersign, which he informed me would
enable me to make myself known to the friends of our cause wherever I
should meet them, and would insure me from them succor, aid, and
protection. [Here the Master of Infantry, who is the conductor, gives
the candidate the Jewish countersign; it is given under the arch of
steel; that is, their swords elevated above their heads, forming a
cross, each placing his left hand upon the other's right shoulder, and
whispering alternately in each other's ear the names of Judah and
Benjamin.]

Q. What followed? A. The Most Excellent Prelate then invested me with
a green sash, as a mark of our particular friendship and esteem; you
will wear it as a constant memorial to stimulate you to the faithful
performance of every duty, being assured that the memory of him, who
falls in a just and virtuous cause, shall forever flourish like the
green bay tree.

Q. What followed? A. I then commenced my journey, and was frequently
accosted by guards, all of which, by means of the countersign I had
received, I was enabled to pass in friendship, until I arrived at the
bridge, which was represented to be in the Persian dominions; on
attempting to pass this bridge, which I found strongly guarded, the
Persian countersign was demanded, and being unable to give it, I was
attacked, overpowered, and made prisoner.

Q. What followed? A. After remonstrating in vain against their
violations, I told them I was a prince of the house of Judah, and
demanded an audience with their sovereign.

Q. What was the answer? A. You are a prisoner, and can obtain an
audience with the sovereign only in the garb of a captive and slave.

Q. Did you consent to this? A. I did; being firmly persuaded that
could I by any means gain access to the presence of the sovereign, I
should be able to accomplish the object of my mission.

Q. What followed? A. They then deprived me of my outward apparel, sash
and sword, and having confined my hands and feet in chains, the links
thereof were of a triangular form, they put sackcloth and ashes on my
head.

Q. Why were the links of the captive's chain of a triangular form? A.
The Assyrians having learned that among the Jews the triangle was an
emblem of the Eternal, caused the links of their chain to be made of a
triangular form, thinking thereby to add to the miseries of their
captives.

Q. What followe