Smyrna times., 1860-02-16
CORRESPO NDENCE.
For the Smyrna IT.lcs.
Letter from Syria.


Ny DEAR MOTHER Very Unexpectedly an
opp)rIunly is presented US Of dropping a few
liues by this present post almost shrink from
embracing ii, too, lest your fears may be arous-
ed in regard to our position at this time,-but
first, my dear mother, you must promise to be
as brave a slOdier as myself, and not become
alarmed in regard to us, then | will tell you.-
1t is this:-A quarrel has arisen between the
Druses and Chrislians,-lt originated between
a Christian and Druse .muleteer going to and
from Beirut, from the village Belt Mary, three
hours distant from Beirut. They met in mar
row part Of the road, and each one ordered the
other to get out of the way, whereupon the
Druse beat the Christian. The news being re-
ported after reaching the village, the Christians
Of that place turned upon the Druse and beat
him. This, of course (and far less,) is all that
ID necessary TO stir up the bitter enmity which
the two sects bear towards each other and in
consequence of this slight provocaton, the
Druses from here and elsewhere took up arms,
and ran over like madmen last Sabbath day to
fight it out. The other village is only an hour
from here. We heard them shouting distinctly,
and can see the place plainly from our lewan.
The Christians were too strong for them, and
in that slight skrmish thirty-tive of the Druses
were killed and wounded-some Christians
were killed also, but not SO many. A number
OF them fled 10 the convent, and their houses
were pillaged of everything by the opposite
party Since then the Druses have burnt sew
erAl villages near US where Christians were re-
siding, and now, they say, that it the Druses
Will not restore Them their loss, they will make
war indeed. They have it in their power to DO
80, for they far outnumber the Druses, and we
nave been only wondering that they have borne
so many Outrages as they have. The Drusss
are in great fear OF them-the whole village is
armed, and soldiers have been sent from the
government to preserve the peace. At the
outbreak Of the war. The Christians all fed, and
lhey wished to serve them as in other villages,
TO pIllage and set fire TO them. but so far have
been prevented by the Druse Sheikhs, who
will not permit them.-The Druses sent letter:
10 all their provinces, and on Sabbath nighl
they met here, ali in front of our house, (ior
you know, we are living in the houses Of two o
the Druse Sheikhs, the most influential men ia
the place, and whose houses are in the mos
public part of the town,) so that we see every
thing that goes on. They sang their war SON.
at midnight, and never heard anything tha
reminded me 60 muck of the Indians as did that
They paraded up aud down before the house az
they sang. You need not be alarmed for vi
for we being Franks, are not in any manne
concerned. You know the nominal Christian
here are in no manner united TO the Protest
ants, and MOslems are in no particular wa
connected with it, as they are distinct sec
from the Christians and Druses. The onl
danger threatening us is, if they should fiji
the village we would be obliged TO move. III
Frank portion in BeIr Mary were not moleste
and it is not likely that the Druses will distui
US, for they look upon us as English, and ha
iag many of their own lives preserved by Il
iormer English Consul, they hold them
greater Veneration than any other nation.-
The Christians ofcourse have no cause to excl
them 10 deeds Of daring towards us. so that, n
dear mother, you need have no fear. Our cor
munication with Beirut has, of course. been =
on since the commencement of this disturbanc
the Christians having fled, and it being at 4
risk of Druse's life 10 venture, single-hande
beyond the village. However, the Americ
Consul kindly sent messenger tonight, to
qalre into the state Of affairs here, saying if
Preferred to remain. be would send guard
protect IS. 10 case there should be need. I
INSTANCE. FIVE were obliged 10 leave, we co,
lsssl more safel y.,-so that we have writ