Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-10-09
NOTES OF TRAVEL IN PALESTINE.
Written for The National Latelligeacer Jya Citizen
as,a 3os Of Washington. y .,it,.s ss.
THE REBEL sHEIK.

IN .r THE REBEL SHEIh,
Our road this morning lay along the base Of Jebc Egl
thArght side of the Valley of Ell Hueh as we faced
towards liberals. We met several of camel
and mules and passed numerous herds of cattle and
few Bedouin villages, The weather was mild and plea
SAINT with slight sprinkle of rain during the forenoon
On the ridge dividing the valley of FL Huleh from Lake
Tiberias, the Sea Of Galee had fine view of both
lakes the lying in the broad plain through which
had passed, cleaning brightly through mass of ver-
dure; the other famed the sacred waters Of Gaee
almost encircled by barren mountains dim in the haze
and still and desote lay outspread before in the
MONDAY sun. Far and near, whichever way looked,
the mountains banched with the searching heat Of
summer and all the rains Of autumn still swallowed
by the thirsty EARTH and still there was the dreary
waste Of whsh stones and sodess heights dreary and
shadowless yet rich beyond all that earth could yield in
the history of Him who had sted the tempest and walk
ed upon the waters.
As we wound our way among the barren rocks we saw
several Arabs skuking about the cliffs armed with long
guns, and apparently watching motions with keen in
terest BY certain signs they seemed to communicate
with others in advances and now and them when they
thought we not looking, they disappeared and
along the other side of the ridge keep pace
with Our dragoman looked uncommonly anxious and
downcast which made think he very much afraid
that Of these suspicious vagabonds would get away
before he could get good chance to shoot them On this
account as supposed he kept very close to We be-
ing altogether unamed to be the spot when the
attack commenced and at the time afford proec
ton with his courage and firearms.
But it seemed as if were doomed never to enjoy
good adventure in the way of attack from the Arabs
No matter how ferventy wished be robbed aving
only trife of small change about u.s. verify believe
had hung bags of gold backs and invited every
prowlng thief met the way to shoot at had
proclaimed aloud that it would greatly obge to be
with sugs knocked the head to have
genuine adventure to put down in journals and talk
about when got home, not one would have dared to
undertake such thing, efficiently protected
by dragoman. These fellows, who watched us
closely were as we discovered the followers of
noted refugee from the Turkish Government formerly the
Sheik of Baabek who had fortified himself in the ruins
of Khan Jub Yusef
AS we rode up front of the Khan the Shek out
and received with great civlty He followed by
few armed men, who, upon seeing that there were no
spies in the party, dropped off quietly and sat down
the rocks some distance off, long conversation took
place between the two heroes our and the hero of
the Khan the substance Of which appeared to be this
that the Sheik unable endure the oppressive sway of
the Turks had taken up against them resolved to
lowers that he could prevail upon join his standard
amounted only to nineteen yet with this handful Of men
had fought and slain Turks than he could count
Himself and his party were sentenced to be hunted
throughout the land and shot down, tortured mutlat
ed, wherever they could be found. Several had been
killed at different times in batte three had recently
been captured in oragng expedition down by Liberals,
and after suffering the crueest tortures shot and
hung upon poles warning to the rest of the band
For himself 1.-THE Sheik, there hope but to kill
few Turks before he died. Already he had been
hunted like wild beast throughout the length and
breadth Of the land his comrades had been scattered
and shot down till only himself and six eight remain
ed but they resolved to sell their lives dearly
The Sheik Of the fnest-looking men had
in the East He about thirty years of age, tall and
weproporoned, and easy and dignfed in his manners
His features Of the oriental cast, regular and
pleasing in repose, but indicative of fiery temperament
and the unlimited sway of the passions when aroused
Nothing could be finer than his eyes-dark brilliant and
percing at times gentle s. yet alternately,
he changed from camer themes the expressions of the
Turks, flashing with savage hatred that perfectly
whitening in its erocity His costume rich and pic
turesque. 1t consisted Of handsome turban which set
off his dark flowing beard to great advantage; loose
trousers profusey embroidered costly vest
ed with braid and silver buttons and his shoulders
ample robe, resembling poncho of rich and beautiful
colors. There natural in all his movements,
unaffected dignity in his manners genuine eloquence
in the rich tones Of his voice and the copious flow Of his
language, that have seldom equalled, and
surpassed, in any other part Of the world 4
Within the Khan we caught glimpse of his wife, q
beautiful young creature who bounded away en-
tered like frightened awn No wonder the Shek guard
ed well his ruined Khan for it held within it living
Treasures being of grace and beauywhom he doubt
less loved with oil the passion of his race whose gentle
and conhding eyes all that smiled upon him
No; there another treasure dedrer to him perhaps
than his wife. An Arab may have something like
regard for a woman there is why he should
not except that is not the custom Of the country and
Arab regulates his affections pretty much like our
selvesaccording to custom In oriental countries it is
customary tolove fyore horse with great constaney and
devotion the Sheik Of Baalbek had beautiful horse, and
the probability is that he even attached it
than he to his beautiful wife Nor is it Ito reduce
every thing to the pure Of rut Mt all unlikely that
he had two three wives equally charming hidden
away in dark Of the ruins. The why
my suspicious aroused this subject was that he
took great deal Of pride in introducing to his horse
while the slightest indication escaped him that such
thing as a wife was any where about the premises.
my first sight Of genuine horse Of the desert
had in Zanzibar, and even in Washington horses
called Arabians and probably they of Arab blood
but there is just much difference between the ordi-
nary Arab horse and the Bedouin breed ESQ sell
dom found except in the deserts there is between
horse and racer This was certainly one of the
most beautiful animals of its kind The decacy Of the
features the fine flashing eye the small sharp cars the
proudly arched neck the clean and symmetricHl