Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-07-07

| Troubies OF Americans In Syrta-Attaek o
the BedOuins upon an American Camp.
The correspondent of the Boston Trdoeilei
writing from Beirut, Syria on May 1s, says
The travelling season is now over, and wos
betide any luckless voyager who has loitered
upon the road. RELENTLESS fevers, which un.
seat the mind, will be almost sure to catch
the hindmost For the last few weeks the
Americans have been scampering to the
seacoast as fapidly as their Arab steeds can
carry them, to make sure their escape to
Oonstantinople or Greece A greater number
OF our countrymen have visited Syria this
year than at any previous time--and now
there remains but one party in the interior,
and these gentlemen win avail themselves of
the next French steamer. .1 1
An American, Mr.. Riggs, of New York,
mas been i'll for some time between Jaffa and
Jerusalem, but has now sufficiently recovered
TO leave the country; while one or two
English travellers now lie ill in Mount Leb-
anon, beyond the reach of medical aid. Ex-
posure to the sun in Syria after the middle of
May IS very dangerous experiment, and
desire to warn my countrymen of the fact.
Two parties of American travellers have
been attacked during this season; no great
damage was done. A few weeks ago the
American community was startled with an
account OF an attack by party of Bedouins
gentlemen and five ladies, near the Dead Sea,
II was reported that the ladies were placed in
the center of the encampment, and the gal
liant gentlemen rallied around them withtbeir
reyolvers, and, exchanging two or three hun
dred shots, drove the Bedouins across the
Jordan. Upon the arrival of this heroic
band in Beirut, it was ascertained that the
story had lost nothing by ventilation and
travel in this Oriental cline. The facts in
thaaa I'D. >
to alarm those who may wish to visit the
Holy Land. +; r,al 5.. u.
0 The Convent of Mar Saba is situated about
q day s journey from the Dead Sea, and over
hangs the dark and sublmely dreadful rayine
which suggested to the mind of the Psalmist
"the valley of the shadow of death" As this
is q Greek Convent, no lady is admitted; and
as there were five ladies in the company, two
parties pitched their tents about half a mile
from the Convent, in the valley below. AS
this is the country for Bedouins, who range
through it unmolested and unchecked by the
Turks, stampede was attempted upon the
mules. This was discovered and resisted bv
the muleteers, who rushed to the scene, firing
guns and pistols, and making the welkin
ring with their shout of revenge. After ex-
changing. thirty or forty shots, the mules were
recovered, and one or two guns captured
from the attacking party by the valiant mu le
teers. While this firing was heard, the
American camp was naturally thrown into
great confusion; and in consideration of the
fact that general attack was anticipated hv
the whole tribe of Bedouins, every body acted
with the most amazing amount of bravery
and determination. Pistols were rapidly
loaded, every gentleman took his position,
and one OF the ladies, armed with pistol,
declared her determination to fire at the
enemy. 1u.slla u. ". U. t.4 "a DOLL
Soon, however, the true state of the case
was understood, and all fears were allayed |
The battle ended with few wounds, not of |
q dangerous character and there being a sur |
geon among the party, the wounds of the |
muleteers were soon dressed with a skill |
which quite astonished them, and filed their |
minds with new impressions of American |
greatness. One young American, Mr., |
Seeley, OF Ohio, shot himself in the finger |
during the affair." but the ball was extracted. |
and the wound didmot prove a serious one |
After peace was restored, the diamond rings
we're taken from the various boot-legs where |
they had been deposited for safe-keepinp. and |
the watches were dug up from their hiding-
places under ground. But the most amusing
Incident of the scene was the discovery Of |
'ne OF the couriers. and dragoman crouch |
ng under the dining-table for safety. |
The muleteers of another party of Amer
cans were attacked near Damascus, but the
'e.65"5S w. PAOoOSOSu1 tiuu Jlle dHHlf enQeQ
With the loss of two guns belonging to the
nuleteers. These guns, however, have since
been recovered by Mr.. Consul johnson. |
1t may be that before another travelling
eason shall roll around, Russian arms may
Ieep the country more quiet but it is feared
hat the Lebanon will prove to its owners the
)ausasus of Syria. and every chief Schamyl.
The present state of things in Mount Leb-
non is not at all inviting. A few days ago,
nj fvrN
:illed by some Christians and the friends of
he slaughtered men, while performing the
nneral ceremonies, killed three Christians
nd priest by way of revenge, to appease
he spirits Of the ghostly departed. This
eprisal was Immediately followed by an
ttack on the part of the Christians in the
eighborhood and resulted in the death of
ie mourning Druses, who were killed upon
le spot.