Upon this occasion, however, an
expression fell from one of the girl's kinsmen which not only
determined me against the idea of interfering, but made me hope
that all attempts to recover the proselyte would fail. This
person, speaking with the most savage bitterness, and with the
cordial approval of all the other relatives, said that the girl
ought to be beaten to death. I could not fail to see that if the
poor child were ever restored to her family she would be treated
with the most frightful barbarity. I heartily wished, therefore,
that the Mussulmans might be firm, and preserve their young prize
from any fate so dreadful as that of a return to her own relations.
The next day the Greek priest returned from his mission to Aboo
Goosh, but the "father of lies," it would seem, had been well plied
with the gold of the enamoured Sheik, and contrived to put off the
prayers of the Christians by cunning feints. Now, therefore, a
second and more numerous deputation than the first waited upon me,
and implored my intervention with the Governor. I informed the
assembled Christians that since their last application I had
carefully considered the matter.
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