The English Consul proposed the first toast; it was for Abdul Medjid. M. Barrière answered it, and the Latin Patriarch made a graceful comment.
Then the Pasha rose, and, in florid Turkish, proposed the health of the Emperor's son and heir. Mons. G. interpreted this speech, and several other toasts followed. The alliance of Turkey, France, and England was especially alluded to by the Pasha, and the toast was very heartily responded to.
The gentlemen did not linger at the table, but led us immediately to the divan, where cigarettes and narghilés were distributed. When I saw that Madᵐᵉ L. took the former, I did not hesitate to take the latter. The Pasha good-naturedly alluded to my visit to Nablûs, and asked for the particulars of my journey to Jerusalem. Coffee and French motto bonbons were handed round, and there was no sign of breaking up the party for an hour or more. Then, one after another, we left.
On Saturday, April 5th, after having spent the day in the Mosque, with a large party of English people, I returned to the Consulate, and was startled to hear that reliable news had just arrived, that the Rev. S. Lyde, an English subject, had accidentally caused the death of a deaf and dumb man, a Moslem, as he was on the point of leaving Nablûs. The Moslems were revenging themselves on the Christian population, and the Protestants especially were the objects of their fury. Ody Azam's house, where we had lodged, had been attacked, as well as many others, and the Christian quarter was plundered.
A meeting of the Pasha and of some of the Consuls was immediately held. My brother volunteered to proceed to Nablûs to examine the state of affairs there, and to see what means could be devised for Mr. Lyde's safe conduct to Jerusalem. He went the next morning, long before sunrise, attended only by his kawass and groom. The Pasha and some of the Consuls had endeavored to persuade him to have a body of soldiers with him, and even tried to in-
