This personage was no other than Aboo
Goosh ("the father of lies" {39}), who was taken out of prison for
the purpose. The "father of lies" enabled Ibrahim to hem in the
insurrection and extinguish it. He was rewarded with the
Governorship of Jerusalem, which he held when I was there. I
recollect, by-the-bye, that he tried one of his stratagems upon me.
I did not go to see him, as I ought in courtesy to have done,
during my stay at Jerusalem; but I happened to be the owner of a
rather handsome amber tchibouque piece, which the Governor heard
of, and by some means contrived to see. He sent to me, and dressed
up a statement that he would give me a price immensely exceeding
the sum which I had given for it. He did not add my tchibouque to
the rest of his trophies.
There was a small number of Greek Christians resident in Nablus,
and over these the Mussulmans held a high hand, not even permitting
them to speak to each other in the open streets; but if the Moslems
thus set themselves above the poor Christians of the place, I, or
rather my servants, soon took the ascendant over THEM. I recollect
that just as we were starting from the place, and at a time when a
number of people had gathered together in the main street to see
our preparations, Mysseri, being provoked at some piece of
perverseness on the part of a true believer, coolly thrashed him
with his horsewhip before the assembled crowd of fanatics.
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