DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12665#0165
A SICK GOVERNOR-
149
burying-ground and a large square fountain con-
necting with the ancient city, being regarded at
this day as one of the works of Solomon ; and
leaving the baggage camels at the gate, with our
horses and dromedaries on full gallop, we dashed
through the narrow streets up to the door of the
citadel, and in no very modest tone demanded an
audience of the governor. The Turks and Arabs
are proverbial for the indifference with which they
look upon every thing ; and though I knew that a
stranger coming from the desert was a rare object,
and ought to excite some attention, I was amused
and somewhat surprised at the extraordinary sen-
sation our appearance created. Men stopped in
the midst of their business ; the lazy groups in the
cafes sprang up, and workmen threw down their
tools to run out and stare at us. I was surprised
at this ; but 1 afterward learned that, since the pa-
cha had disarmed all Syria, and his subjects in that
part of his dominions wore arms only by stealth, it
was a strange and startling occurrence to see a
party of lawless Bedouins coming in from the des-
ert, armed to the teeth, and riding boldly up to the
gates of the citadel.
The janizary at the door told us that the gov-
ernor was sick and asleep, and could not be dis-
turbed. He was, however, a blundering fellow;
and after a few moments' parley, without giving
his master any notice, he had us all standing over
the sleeping invalid. The noise of our entering,
and tbe clang of our weapons, roused him; and
149
burying-ground and a large square fountain con-
necting with the ancient city, being regarded at
this day as one of the works of Solomon ; and
leaving the baggage camels at the gate, with our
horses and dromedaries on full gallop, we dashed
through the narrow streets up to the door of the
citadel, and in no very modest tone demanded an
audience of the governor. The Turks and Arabs
are proverbial for the indifference with which they
look upon every thing ; and though I knew that a
stranger coming from the desert was a rare object,
and ought to excite some attention, I was amused
and somewhat surprised at the extraordinary sen-
sation our appearance created. Men stopped in
the midst of their business ; the lazy groups in the
cafes sprang up, and workmen threw down their
tools to run out and stare at us. I was surprised
at this ; but 1 afterward learned that, since the pa-
cha had disarmed all Syria, and his subjects in that
part of his dominions wore arms only by stealth, it
was a strange and startling occurrence to see a
party of lawless Bedouins coming in from the des-
ert, armed to the teeth, and riding boldly up to the
gates of the citadel.
The janizary at the door told us that the gov-
ernor was sick and asleep, and could not be dis-
turbed. He was, however, a blundering fellow;
and after a few moments' parley, without giving
his master any notice, he had us all standing over
the sleeping invalid. The noise of our entering,
and tbe clang of our weapons, roused him; and