I told my applicants that I would take this step on the
following morning. They were very grateful, and were, for a
moment, much pleased at the prospect of safety which might thus be
opened to them, but the deliberation of a minute entirely altered
their views, and filled them with new terror. They declared that
any attempt, or pretended attempt, on the part of the Governor to
arrest Mohammed Damoor would certainly produce an immediate
movement of the whole Mussulman population, and a consequent
massacre and robbery of the Israelites. My visitors went out, and
remained I know not how long consulting with their brethren, but
all at last agreed that their present perilous and painful position
was better than a certain and immediate attack, and that if
Mohammed Damoor was seized, their second estate would be worse than
their first. I myself did not think that this would be the case,
but I could not of course force my aid upon the people against
their will; and, moreover, the day fixed for the fulfilment of this
second prophecy was not very close at hand. A little delay,
therefore, in providing against the impending danger would not
necessarily be fatal.
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