n kill and _have_ killed
patriarchs and emirs, and that in their own houses; and why could they
not kill Asaad with you, if they chose? Is your house more secure than
the convent of the patriarch, or the palace of the emir? A man in
entering your house, would violate all law, but the English would not
make war for the killing of a single man."

I observed, that an application would very possibly be made to the
pasha, by the consul, if Asaad was not soon delivered up. "An
application of that sort," replied T. "would be quite useless. The pasha
would send the application to the emir, and do you not think the emir
would arrange the affair as he pleased? He knows well this sort of
dealing. He has known how to manage these mountains for forty years, and
do you think he would be at a loss about such a trifle as this? For
example, what would be more easy for the emir, if he chose to detain the
man, than to say he had committed murder, and therefore could not be
given up?" "But," said I, "such a charge must be established by
competent witnesses, and under the consul's inspection." "True," replied
he, "and where would be the difficulty in that? _The emir would bring
500 witnesses to-morrow to establish any crime he was pleased to
allege._ And as to his fearing the pasha, though he holds his office
under him, yet his power is even superior to the pasha's."----"The
patriarch," continued Tannoos, "can do just what he chooses, in spite of
the English. You have brought books here, and the patriarch has burned
them in spite of you. He has issued to all denominations a proclamation
full of lies against you, and what have you been able to do? You have
indeed written a reply to the proclamation, and hold it up to the
people, and say, 'Look how the patriarch lies about us;' but what does
he care for all that."

So talks a Lebanon mountaineer, of more sense, information and truth,
than most others, respecting the moral character and godly fear of his
patriarch and prince.

_His family attempt his liberation._

19. Phares brought us a letter, which had just been received by the
family at Hadet, from the patriarch, wishing them to come immediately to
Cannobeen. Tannoos and his mother have gone, and intend, if possible, to
bring Asaad away, either to Kesroan, or to Hadet. The mother insisted on
going, and wished to pass through Beyroot on her way, that she might
consult us before she went; but this was not permitted her.

The above me