But while preparing them, his attention was incidentally drawn to a brief article in a Virginia publication, from the pen of Dr.Walsh, British chaplain at Constantinople, entitled "Chaldees in Persia;" and it was the impression made by that article, which led to a positive direction to visit that people, should it be found practicable, and see whether the churches in this western world had any duty to perform to them.

The English at Tabriz confessed to an almost entire ignorance of the religious doctrines and character of the Nestorians.

The only important fact our brethren could learn there was, that a considerable body of them were accessible in the provinces of Oroomiah and Salmas, at the distance of somewhat more than a hundred miles.
Our travellers remained at Tabriz from the 18th of December to March, 1831, when restored health and the opening season permitted them to resume their journey.

In Salmas, they first came in contact with the Chaldeans, as those Nestorians were called who had been won over by Roman Catholic missionaries since the year 1681.

The name means no more than papal Syrians, or papal Armenians.