CHAPTER XXV--MARIAM
There is no spirit of propagandism in the Mussulmans of the Ottoman
dominions. True it is that a prisoner of war, or a Christian
condemned to death, may on some occasions save his life by adopting
the religion of Mahomet, but instances of this kind are now
exceedingly rare, and are quite at variance with the general
system. Many Europeans, I think, would be surprised to learn that
which is nevertheless quite true, namely, that an attempt to
disturb the religious repose of the empire by the conversion of a
Christian to the Mahometan faith is positively illegal. The event
which now I am going to mention shows plainly enough that the
unlawfulness of such interference is distinctly recognised even in
the most bigoted stronghold of Islam.
During my stay at Nablus I took up my quarters at the house of the
Greek "papa" as he is called, that is, the Greek priest. The
priest himself had gone to Jerusalem upon the business I am going
to tell you of, but his wife remained at Nablus, and did the
honours of her home.
Soon after my arrival a deputation from the Greek Christians of the
place came to request my interference in a matter which had
occasioned vast excitement.
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