urs' ride we met two of the chiefs of the Portuguese
community, sent to escort us as a guard of honour. On reaching
half-way up the mountain, the ecclesiastical chief of the German
Hebrew community, accompanied by many of his congregation, came to
welcome us. He is an old man of benevolent countenance. I dismounted,
giving the chief my horse to ride. This special mark of respect I
showed to him in commemoration of the holy resignation manifested by
the venerable chief only a year before on the occasion of the revolt
of the Druses against Mohhammad Ali. These marauders, having pillaged
and maltreated the whole community, wished to enforce from them an
additional sum of five hundred Turkish purses or L2500, a sum which of
course the Hebrews could not produce. The Druses thereupon bound the
aged chief hand and foot, and laying the edge of a naked sword upon
his neck, threatened to instantly sever his head if the demanded sum
were not handed over without delay. The good man did not ask them to
spare his life, which he would willingly sacrifice to save his
community; all he requested of them was to allow a little clean water
to be poured over his hands, that he might recite a prayer and
acknowledge the justice of God in all His ways. At this a heartrending
cry burst from all present, and even the Druses themselves appear to
have been touched. They withdrew the sword and entered upon some
arrangements with the community, who had to borrow the required amount
from some of the convents. I had been to see him the day after this
occurrence, and found him reciting his morning prayers as calmly as if
nothing had happened.

Sir Moses in his description of the journey continues--"As we were
descending the mountain a man, who had been placed there to give
notice to the inhabitants of our approach, fired a musket, and the
salute was answered by our party, who discharged their guns and
pistols. Our firing had a cheerful effect, as the echo was taken up by
the distant hills. We were soon met by Signor Mirrachi (ecclesiastical
chief of the Portuguese community) with a great number of his
congregation. He expressed his regret that I would not accept the
house he had prepared for us. The scene became most interesting. Men,
women, and children covered the sides and top of the hill as well as
the roofs of all houses; but I was nearly dead with fatigue."

As soon as Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore reached their apartments,
preparations were ma