DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5295#0260
22(5 TRAVELS IN EGYPT, NUBIA,
peasantry led me to suppose that half that number would be
a formidable obstacle to any invading array. The successes
of Djezzar Pasha were attributed to the unsettled state of
parties; as three competitors in the same family, brothers or
near relations, assumed the authority in the district of Mount
Libanon at that time, by which the strength of the country
wras divided, and never united against the Turks; who, in
consequence, obtained possession of the chief town, Deir-el-
Kamr. The reigning emir had been baptized in his infancy,
and in consequence was supported by the Maronites ; and
by their aid was enabled to crush his rivals, whose eyes were
put out, according to the custom of the East; and they
were allowed to live in an easy imprisonment, in one of the
villages in the neighbourhood of Trablos, under the custody
of a son of the emir. The information acquired on my first
arrival was corroborated on further inquiry from the imme-
diate attendants of the emir; I therefore had not lost my
time.
The order for my admission into the town at last came:
I was to sleep at the Maronite convent, where I was taken
by a long winding street. The monks, six in number, were
still up when I arrived : their convent could have contained
many more. I fared ill in a place where meat was never
eaten: a couple of eggs, and some bad bread and cheese,
were a poor supply of supper after my long ride. I had,
peasantry led me to suppose that half that number would be
a formidable obstacle to any invading array. The successes
of Djezzar Pasha were attributed to the unsettled state of
parties; as three competitors in the same family, brothers or
near relations, assumed the authority in the district of Mount
Libanon at that time, by which the strength of the country
wras divided, and never united against the Turks; who, in
consequence, obtained possession of the chief town, Deir-el-
Kamr. The reigning emir had been baptized in his infancy,
and in consequence was supported by the Maronites ; and
by their aid was enabled to crush his rivals, whose eyes were
put out, according to the custom of the East; and they
were allowed to live in an easy imprisonment, in one of the
villages in the neighbourhood of Trablos, under the custody
of a son of the emir. The information acquired on my first
arrival was corroborated on further inquiry from the imme-
diate attendants of the emir; I therefore had not lost my
time.
The order for my admission into the town at last came:
I was to sleep at the Maronite convent, where I was taken
by a long winding street. The monks, six in number, were
still up when I arrived : their convent could have contained
many more. I fared ill in a place where meat was never
eaten: a couple of eggs, and some bad bread and cheese,
were a poor supply of supper after my long ride. I had,