Page:Domestic Life in Palestine.pdf/324

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
RESCUE OF MR. LYDE.
317

murdered." [This refers to Bishop Gobat, who was making a tour through his diocese, and had passed through Nablûs a few days before the outbreak.]

"Samaan Kawarre, father of the Prussian Agent, is killed. Hanna, servant of M. Zeller, is dangerously wounded, and despaired of. J. Tannûs and his wife, and several others, are badly wounded—besides eleven women, who are seriously injured by excessive fright," etc.

On the 10th, about midday, I was attracted to the window by sounds of prancing horses and tum-tums, and saw Mr. Lyde, in the midst of a little party of Turkish irregular cavalry. He alighted at the Consulate, a prisoner en parole. We all went out to meet and welcome him, and he gave us an account of the riots. He was very dejected. He said to me, "Mr. Rogers ran a greater risk on my account than my life is worth."

On Sunday, the 13th, my brother arrived. The riots were quelled, but the Christians felt less confidence than ever in their Moslem neighbors. Most of the Protestants had come to Jerusalem, and the rest were at Nazareth. My brother had brought with him the jeweled head-dresses, and necklaces of gold coins and pearls, belonging to some of the Christian women of Nablûs, and gave them into my care. He had been earnestly entreated to do so by their owners, of whom some had taken flight, and feared to carry their valuables with them—and others, who remained at home, felt that no hiding-place was safe while the town was so unsettled.

Mahmoud Bek Abdul Hady, the Governor, had certainly protected the Christians, during the outbreak, as far as he possibly could.

The indemnity of 55,000 piasters, adjudged to the injured Christians by the Porte, was not paid till two years afterward.

Mr. Lyde's trial, at Jerusalem, occupied a considerable time. He was eventually condemned to pay a certain sum, as "blood-money," to the heirs of the deceased man, who