CHAPTER XII.

A CIVIL WAR ARRANGED BY SHEIK SAÏD, BUT

FRUSTRATED.

March 13th.-THIS was to have been my last day in the Lebanon. The steamer touches once a fortnight, and was expected early this day. I had so far recovered from my long confinement, that I was enabled to profit by it, and I consequently was early on foot, and got down to Beyrout by eight in the morning. I shall hold as one of the most fortunate incidents of my life, my having moved at this hour. An hour later and this country, at the moment at which I write, would have been already given over to fire and the sword.

On reaching the residence of Emin Effendi, I found every one in consternation. Entering his room, I saw him pacing it in extreme agitation, and dictating to a Secretary. He said, "Don't interrupt me; moments are precious. The people has risen, and the insurrection must instantly be quashed." Meanwhile he told the Secretary to translate to me the dispatch that he had received. That dispatch, from Izzet Pasha, announced that the inhabitants of Jezzin had beaten the troops, and he required an order immediately to vindicate the honour of the

Sultan's arms. It was that order that was being dictated, and it was to the effect that he should proceed instantly to Jezzin, taking with him whatever number of troops he judged necessary, to put down the insurrection, and restore order. On learning this much I interposed, by asking what he was about. He answered sternly, "Doing my duty." I replied in the same tone, "You are falling into a flimsy trap. What do the Sheiks want, but to compromise the Sultan's troops with the people, and the moment they seize is, when the Pasha is absent, to involve and thereby to sacrifice you. 1 implore you, at least before you proceed, to state to me the case that has been reported." These words, and especially the last, confounded him. He had not read the enclosures! We now sat down to their perusal. They consisted of statements by three different individuals, and these were not only incoherent but contradictory.

The first point that came out was, that the beating of the troops did not mean the rout of a body of men, but the inflicting of some blows with sticks on certain individuals: it was not an action, but a brawl. Then it appeared that the Turkish soldiers, some three or four in number, had been put forward by the Hawalis of Saïd Bey, who had then turned upon them and excited the people to the outrage.

I inquired who had given the orders for the presence or employment of the Turkish troops at all? He did not know. I begged him to tear up

the half written order, and to replace it by another, for the recall of the troops from Jezzin, which he did at once; adding that all the parties concerned should be despatched to Beyrout, to answer for their conduct. The matter so far settled as regards Emin Effendi, was still nevertheless alarming. Izzet Pasha was supreme in the military department, and not a man to be moved or influenced when once aroused, especially on a point of military honour. The ultimate decision besides rested with the Megilis. That it would be for extreme measures, possessed as they were with that wonderful infatuation about holding the balance, we had no doubt. There remained nothing but to anticipate its conclusions by steps taken in the meantime, for which the concurrence of Izzet Pasha was absolutely necessary. It was therefore decided, that Emin Effendi should go at once to him, and that I should remain ready to follow.

Now a new dilemma presented itself. He informed me, that during the last two weeks there had been at Beyrout a deputation from Jezzin, clamorously demanding justice against Sheik Saïd, and threatening if it were refused to set fire to Jezzin. They were not listened to, on the grounds that the Pasha had no authority in the matter. It was as essential to content and restrain these suppliants, as it was to content and restrain Izzet Pasha, and the difficulty in each case doubled that of the other. As matters now stood, unless some compromise

could be arrived at, war would be raging within the week; but no longer a civil war. It would be a revolt against the Sultan. It was now also clear why Sheik Saïd had pushed matters to extremities. It was therefore settled, that whilst Emin Effendi went to the Pasha, I should receive the deputation from Jezzin; that each should immediately communicate to the other by messenger, so that we should reciprocally know on what grounds we stood.

The people from Jezzin soon presented themselves, headed by three priests. The conference lasted four painful hours. In the course of it I received three messages; the first, that no troops should be sent; the second, that those at Jezzin should be withdrawn; the third, an hour later, that the sum of arrears demanded should be reduced to one-third. On my part, I had to send two messages; the first, that the case upon which they were acting, was wholly different from the circumstances upon which they had to decide; the second, an entreaty to suspend every decision till we had had the opportunity of conferring. I cannot undertake to put what passed on paper. The facts elicited were the following.

Jezzin and its dependent villages, amounting to 43, and containing 3000 taxable males, had been rated in the settlement of Chekib Effendi at about 45,000 piastres, which partly consisted in a poll-tax of 10 piastres per head, and partly of a propertytax. Only one payment had been made; it was

four years ago. They then discharged their liabilities for the three previous years. They did not know the amount that had been collected, but they had paid the poll-tax, at the rate of 20 piastres a head, which was double the sum due. They produced the Masbata for that payment, according to which the two taxes are estimated for Jezzin and seven villages, 37 belonging to Saïd Bey bearing only the one tax, the poll; so that the propertytax fell exclusively on the others. They therefore complained of the whole property-tax being thrown upon them, together with a double poll-tax. This overcharge they had known only after the payment had been made; and consequently they had resisted all subsequent demands for all taxes whatever, and had paid none for four years, alleging that the 20 piastres poll-tax for the past five years was a discharge for the 10 piastres subsequently due for the ensuing four years. Saïd Bey, not content with demanding the whole sum, as before, required in addition 12,000 piastres, and had recently demanded a second 12,000, which was the occasion of the present deputation. They had determined not to pay, under any pretext, a single para, whether as tax or on account, till they were discharged from the demand. After a long and warm debate, I succeeded in getting them to admit the basis of the payment of 1845.

At this time the message reached me from Emin Effendi and Izzet Pasha, that they would reduce