The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-08-26
The Syrian Question.


services.
The Syrian Question.
THE MARoSrrEs AND THE DRUsEs
Translated from the Paris Pstre July %, for the Nsw
YORK HERAIp
The deporable events OF which Syria Is the theatre
lead TO give geographical and ethnos sketch
of the country stained with blood many victims
rripo, Dsbsii, Beyrout or sads perceives at small
distance the majestic chain OF the Lebanon
s 20
Of the Nahr ell Kebir (Eeu,heros) to the Nah-e Kas
mich which is the lower Of the Ltani Ieoptes)
This latter river which quite large at hrs from
north to south, and then quite suddenly, from east
Its upper valley borders the eastern foot of L.
vfsg
II penetrates into the interior OF these beau
s ,. DUN be at
the everlasting verdure OF the valleys aud the Of
limpd water which spout out on all sides aud farrow
deep ravines. Groves OF cotton olive and mulberry
trees scattered among steep rocks, vines are
hanging from the sides OF the mountains and huge
punches of grapes In going to the upper daes one finds
flowers, particularly erauthemas but the everlasting
sno does not cover the SUBMITS Of the mountaps
most celebrated are the cedars, located in the northern
part; they form small wood Of about 400 trees, on
table land Of 900 metres Ia altitude towards the
OF the Nahr Kadichst, (he Tripo river westward of
the Maknei mountain which ia the apex OF the chain
ana Is $50 metre: high THIS wood is At distance Of
where according 10 the Arabs God placed the terrestrial
Paradise Among these cedArs be seen twelve old
ones, which may be contemporaneous with Solo,
mon, and consequently almost three thou
sand years old; they are huge, ani two of them
measure thirteen metres in circumference Formerly,
when peace regned in that beautiful country the cedars
were placed under the protection OF tue patriarch OF the
Marontes who every year. or TRANSPORTATION day came
to celebrate Divine service altar OF cedar wood,
erected at the foot Of the largest of these venerable
Mount sannn Qhe Sinai Of the Scr p;are 22s5 metres
high and situated In the middle part OF Lebanon towards
the parallel Of Beyrout contains iron and coal mines
The Nahr eli Kelb, which rises there, doxs but short
distance before reaching the Little farther 10 the
north the Nahr Ibrshim in the same direction.
Anti Lebanon, which the Arabs call pebe ech Cherki
the mountains OF the Eas rises eastward Of Lebanon,
and extends also from north To south; the former Is
higher and hes for its apex the Debeech Cheykh which
crowns the Of the Jordan and IS 3os5 metres
high 1t Is the Great Hermon OF oIden times The valley
Of Bkaa EXTENDS between the great chains which
touch each other really between the OF the Aas
and Liisni, which are close TO each other.
Two principal nations inhAbit Lebaa)n-ihe Maronltes
and the Druses-whose hostility has been the principal
cause OF the dreadful eatas,rophes which have Jus, oc
Cured Each Of them numbers about 900 900 but their
numerical strength and their habits quite different
The Maronee located between the Nahr ell keoir aud
the Nahr el keb, and mainly in the kesraouan cult
vators Of the ground Of aaable and pleasant disposition
a,d strongly attached to the Catholic faith
The Dfuses, who lOcatei more southwlri. are
proud, dull, gloomy AMI very wsriSe. Tue religious
headquarters OF the Narontes Klnobn, (iu Latin,
Cenobiuml monastery cut into the rock and founded
by Theodosus the Great II s the ordinary resieu Of
their patriarch. Their political capital Is Besfa
residence Of the Emir, who is vassa of the Porte.
This small Christian nation has organized little by lit
tie, by the immigration Of exies who the time when
Heraclus lost Syria sought shelter against the cruelty Of
Ohosroes in the Of Lebanon II took its name
from anchorte by the Of Maron, who from
the borders Of the oroute to be Bishop Of Bo,rys be
tween rrpol and 8ybos) he rendered great vice to
the church OF syris to the rank OF patriarch
selected Kanobn for his residence Marou bad, how
ever, ta.nt OF heresy, which the Maronlies re.
have Only preserved the custom OF celebrating &C
cordins to their rite and in their dialect, which
institution Of the marriage Of the priests Their fer
vency and pety recall 10 mind the centuries OF tue pr
mtive church. Two hundred monasteres, which rigor
ousy keep the rule Of S. Aatouus scattered through
the valleys aud upon the picturesque rocks snd great
number OF permits have found retreats IN the
caves and caverns: but what las become Of them
since the cruel attacks Of the Druses What has
become OF those ingenious husosutres supported by
walls erected terraces on the sides Of the ountans
those honest chaste families whose rustic roof always
offered hospitabe shelter TO the Christian traveller
those graceful CheySh women whose faces were eucir
oled "a white and light VEIL fastened the head
end Of brass or silver tube strangely bent Ia the shape
Of a horn'
DER clKamer (he house Of the mooD) large fortified
village at the southeast Of 8eyrou, Is considered their
capital and was the residence Of their Emr HaSsm
prev ousy to ls.5, when the Ottoman government
that chief to give up hts oce % Turkish governor
The neshoorins distrc, is called chou aud produces
The people are not OF the Nahome,aa faith as is gene.
rally believed; they have their own peculiar religion;
ioD manifested hi nself IN human shape In the person
81 Hakem Caph OF Egypt, about the year 1880 Their
EMS "a. 1 ss. DEAN in Which ,, ass
such a The mstempsyolioss and the worship Of /
the CALI Tue Druses do not practise circumcision,
Dor astng nor prayers they drink eat pork marry
between brother and sister and aove5 90 take
-sl wives. They have places Of worship, bs hold Sc
ret meetings every thirteth night II IL believed that
heir name comes from that Of Durz OF the first
lies OF Hakem According to another OPT aon IL indicates
sect which studies mysteries, aud originates from the
rerb darass meaning to study Finally, according TO few
,thers that name is merely corruption OF the ancient
turoi or turs, nvncbe nation sreaiy In the time
y the Romans and who tnhabtcd the country between
3eryta aud Damss.
The Druses very vindctive; reveagc for blood by
sood is their maxim. Their jealousy 10 extreme strict
'e covers The face Of their women who are said to be
-ery handsome.
The MetouaIisss who chiefly inhsbh the valley OF BSaa
,etween Lebanon and Anti Lebanon are very exalted
hutes Msbometans consequently enem es 81 tue Turks
sho are SUBMITS They worship the Caliph All Almost rs
much AZ Cod and their itself expresses thssr
alton Tor that sou in law Of Mahomet. Their lnannSs
re rough aud iuhospitable
me Ansarieh, Nossareh. or Nosarieh, live 70
ne north OF the Msroaitss, 10 the mountains,
o which they have given their nams, and which
an be looked upon as a northern continuation OF the
siosn They seem 10 have drawn their name frsm
neis Sect strange mixture Of Pagansn, Christansm
nd hahomeianism. They number about 40, 900.
vas IN that part OF Syria that the Crusaders met the
smoas nation OF Assassins subiectedfo the Old Man Of
oe MO niau aredoubsbc prince account OF the blind
ga o. MI subjects for the latter went n his comnsndto
gu those whom be had pointed out for Victims the name
ASSASSIN tHachiohin) comes from that OF hschch Clash
Vegs'soe preparation, which is Intoxicating and
~ t0r pass Kind q hemp (cannsbis inica) and By