Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates Vol 2 - The Search For Mecca

en. XXI.] Peace or War'? 143
years old, named Maiisur (Victorious), with
plump
rosy clieeks and a friendly disposition, not at all
sliy as the children here generally are. He walked
across the tent all alone to give me a kiss. Hamid
the Akid has come 1)ack with Abd er Rahman to
give us news of the council of war, for I fear it can
hardly be hoped to be one of peace, though nothinghas
yet been settled. It appears that Sotamm has
received a letter from Jevdet Pasha, the new Valy
of Damascus, which he has got Abd er Rahman to
read for him. It is a very curt epistle, forbidding
the Roiila to go any further north this year than
where they are. But it concludes with these words,
" if you have anything to say to me on this score,
I will see you at Damascus and listen patiently."
This, Sotamm, and everyone else,
take to be on the
Pasha's part, ",9a maniere de tirer une carotte."
The new Valy, it is said, is " hungry," and must
have his share. So Sotamm is making ready to
go off to Damascus to-morrow with presents in
his hand, and is more than ever determined to
follow up his game with the Turks. I fear it is
useless arguing further, even on the ground of
personal danger to an Ibn Shaaldn in Damascus, for
Sotamm knows, or should know, that he runs no
sort of risk there.
It is only sheyklis of individual
eminence who are in any danger. Later, Sotamm
himself joined us, and w^e tried our last counsels.
He listened very politely, and appealed almost
pathetically to us to excuse him, if he could not do