Smyrna times., 1859-12-15


lo.ore seen, the meaning OF the UNICORN. Sou.e
CT these horns are of silver, and are very cost
ly; of course such areworn only by the wealth
lest. You can imagine the oddity Of their ap-
pearance, satisfactorily, without any further
comment.
During one of the Druse wars, their church
or place of fWorshp was entered and ravaged OF
all its contents, among which was little manu-
| script, containing their religious doctrines,
which was nothing more than a mass of absurdi-
| ty and ambiguousness. Our Arabic teacher
having it in his possession last winter, MIR.
Beattie translated it into English, which in
tend sending home at some future time for your
perusal.
We do not intend remaining in Abadiyeh
longer than the summer, for though entirely
pleasant during this season of the year, win
ter residence might not prove so comfortable
the mountain houses, though exposes to all the
worst phases of Syrian winter, are rendered
by no means waterproof, except by the repeat
ed and toilsome labor of rolling the roof Of the
house, proVious TO any violent storm, with
large stone, which they drag over and over, for
the purpose of making the gravel-of which
the roof is composed-more compact, and thus
turning the water of, in a measure. lp hiring
mountain house we have always to put in
glass windows, as such comforts are ever DEEM
ed by the Fellaheen or MouDtaineers superfu-
Gus ; therefore in building their houses the win
dows, like the doors, are not debarred from ad-
mitting, freely the mountain air. You may,
perhaps, wonder how they manage, during the
rains, to keep comfortable. Well, this, and all
the other Arab customs, can tell you by CIV
| ing you one rule, which is ever to invert
Frank custom, and you will have the Arb one
in winter instead of having glass windows,
whereby they might admit the light and hea
of the sun, they close Gll up tightly, and fill up
cracks with bits of paper, rags, &C., then build
fire, of wood, in clay furnace. in some part
of the room, as best suits their convenience,
(for they are not restricted to any particular
part by the use of chimney then keeping
closely around it they commence their winter
stories, rivaling, in manner, the extravaganza
of speech of the Arabian Nights Entertain.
ment.
! THIS land is full of interest from its close
connection with Bible history-even now the
most of their customs may date their origin from
the days of Abraham. The excess to which
they carry their salutatons show Clearly the
necessity of the injunction which Elisha gave
to Gehaz in the case ofthe Shunamite, &C Kings,
4th chap, 29th w. which says ." if thou meet
any man, salute him not, and if any man salute
thee, answer him not &c,-oflen DO we see, in
the case of persons meeting one an other, sew
eral minutes consumed in the mere exchange
of salaams or salutatons. To our question,
" how are you g. we never get direct answer,
but are replied TO in this manner, "sclam un-
ruk," meaning "peace to your age" and in va
Fious other ways, such as my peace be with
you" "may your age be prolonged" &c and
the beautiful salutatOn which was so significant
ly passed between Boaz and his reapers, is now
used with that thoughtlesness and irreverence
as if the meaning died away with the sound of
their lIPs II was probably in reference to the
irreverent and superfuous use Of these saluta-
tions 10 which our Saviour so touchingly allud.
ed to his disciples, (John l4th chap, 9th Wy
" Peace leave with you, my peace give unto
you, not as the world giveIh, give unto you"
We expect to 90, this fall, TO La,akia. where
we hope to be permanently settled. ii lie sea.
port town, about twenty four hours, by steamer,
from Beirut. Truhle, the place to which our
attention was formerly directed, we have de-
termined to abandon, the weakness and inef-
fcency Ofthe government is such 10 be un-
able TO afford us any protection, whatever.
Write to US often-it strengthens our hearts
and hands to receive a letter in this far of land,
telling us of your remembrance and affection.
Evening is drawing on must close with much
love to all, which Mr.. B. untes with me in
sending, and now that the LorG may bless and
keep you, and lift up the light of his counte
nance upon you is the prayer of
Your affectonate daughter,
Nj. E. BEArTIE.