I immediately perceived that the boys were the sons and nephews of my old friend, Saleh Bek Abdul Hady. The slave who was with them explained, in a few hurried words, that Arrabeh was being besieged by Turkish troops, assisted by the Jerrar and the Tokan factions, and that the Abdul Hady family had no hope of being able to defend the town, so Saleh Bek sent his young sons away, to seek an asylum in Hâifa. The boys were fully persuaded that they should be in safety if they could only reach the English Vice-Consulate. They had met with many narrow escapes on the road. The slave concluded by saying, "Thank God, I have seen these children in safety under the roof of my lord, their protector!" Then he hastened away, before we could answer him.
The boys were very tired. They had crouched down on the carpet, close to my side, and two of them had taken firm hold of my dress. They said, "Ya habeebee! ya sittee Inglesi!" (O beloved! O my English lady!) "you will protect us—you will not let them take us to prison—you will not send us away!"
They watched my brother's countenance anxiously while he was speaking to me in English, for they did not know whether to hope or to fear. They said to me, "Speak to the Consul for us. Speak good words for us, O lady!"
We ordered food to be immediately prepared for the boys. They heard the order given, and one of them exclaimed, "We can not eat till the Consul gives us hope of his protection."
My brother then said, "I will do all I can for you, my boys. Eat now, and peace be upon you."
law of "dakhal." An escaped prisoner, or a man in danger of being captured by an enemy, may by this law claim refuge in the tent of an Arab, even in the encampment of an opposing tribe. The refugee enters the tent, takes hold of the robe of the occupant, and exclaims, "Ana dakhaliek!" and thus becomes a "dakhiel" or protégé. A true Arab will defend his "dakhiel" with his life. The law of "dakhal" is, however, only in full force among those tribes who are, by their strength or geographical position, independent of the Turkish government. Among tribes in which the law is maintained, a man who proved false to his dakhiel would be disgraced for life! The expression "Ana dakhaliek" is used by town Arabs as a term of endearment, implying perfect reliance and trust.
