This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 Excerpt: ...the statements of which I have compared, and now thrown together in a concise form. As regards what I have to say respecting the two most celebrated sects of Lebanon, the Druses and the Maronites, my principal authorities are the French work of Sylvestre de Sacy, and the extremely interesting one of Colonel Churchill. ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 Excerpt: ...the statements of which I have compared, and now thrown together in a concise form. As regards what I have to say respecting the two most celebrated sects of Lebanon, the Druses and the Maronites, my principal authorities are the French work of Sylvestre de Sacy, and the extremely interesting one of Colonel Churchill. For the last ten years this gentleman has resided in Beyrout, and passed a great part of that time amongst the Druses on Lebanon, where he has married a Druse lady, and, as is also asserted, become a convert to their religion. Yet it appears to me, from his work, that if he have to a certain degree united him186 THE RULERS OF THE MOUNTAIN. self to this religion, it has been done rather from a desire for knowledge than any other motive, because he is by no means blind to their failings. Colonel Churchill is at the present time on a visit to his Druse connexions in Lebanon a for which reason I shall not have the pleasure of seeing him here. Lebanon--the White Mountain--that elephant amongst mountains, bears on its colossal back, between the Mediterranean and the valley of Ccelo-Syria, between Palestine and Syria Proper, half a million of human beings, for the greatest part of Asiatic descent, but of many various religious professions. In seasons of war and oppression, or under religious persecutions, the people from the open country have from time immemorial fled up to " the good mountains," there to find freedom and protection. For in the valleys amongst the mountains spring forth affluent streams of water; and the fertile soil, heated by the sun, abundantly repays the labour of the cultivator. Into those lofty regions, and by those difficult rocky paths, the hosts of the enemy could not easily pursue them; and even if they did so, we...
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