, 1880-05-12

head of the Sunni section OF the Moslem
Church, this man bears a high odour of
sanctity, and ranks in the eyes of many
only just inferior to the Sultan. himself.
The entry was a fine sight. Every one
was in gala dress, and it twas easy to. see
that the Mahomedan onlookers regarded
him as a sort OF deity. AS he passed along
the road towards the city, guns were fred
to mark his progress, and his .cavalcade
was preceded by men carrying Standards
with verses of the Koran embroidered on
them in letters of gold. Hundreds of men
chanting his goodness and power escorted
the bands. which had been sent out by
the Governor to usher in the great visitor.
1t was a fine picture-crowds of splendid
Bedouins, 1.-THE, active, and handsome in
their bournooses of many colours, each
man carrying a long irelock with lighted
match thousands of Arabs in their
flowing bright coloured robes, some on
foot, others on camels, gaily caparisoned
In trappings wrought about with pearls
and shells; others on horse back, with
here and there a mounted Turkish officer
and mostly groups of ragged soldiers.
The Grand Shereef is a very darkroom.
plexioned man, but with a genial mild
face. He is most kind-hearted and has
the reputation of being q man of extreme
ly liberal views 10 religious matters and
by no means a fanatic. A few of the
Europeans in the city watched the process
sion from a grated window IN neighbours
house 4; and when the streets in our vicini-
ty were clear [ started to ride home with
the French Consul and his daughter.
We had scarcely left the house when an
Arab rushed up to US, pale and trembling.
"Bey," he shouted, the Grand Shereef
wants the French Consul. He has been
wounded and is very ILL.," The Consul,
who is a doctor, went off at once, and
after escorting his daughter home, [
5eturned to the Grand Shereet's house to
inquire as to the truth of the report. I
then heard that just as His Holiness lad
reached his own door and was preparing
to %dismount, q Persian Dervish, or holy
man OF the Shah sect OF Mahomedans,
sprang at him and endeavoured to stab the
Shereet with clasped pocket-knife. His
Holiness warded off the blow !; but, in
doing so, was severely cut about the
hands. Fooled in the first attempt, the
Persian ndeavoured to rip up the abdo-
men of his victim, and succeeded IN lnflct-
ing a very ugly wound about three inches
long in the upper part OF the stomach. At
6rsl the wound was not considered serious,
nor were any apprehensions entertained OF
a fatal result. Very few saw the blow
struck, but the Grand Shereef, dismount-
ing with difficulty, was supported into his
own house, bleeding protusely. A few OF
the bystanders quickly realized what had
happened, and selling the culprit began
to m%altreat him vigorously, but the timely
arrival of few zaptiehs saved..his life Had
the wretch fallen a victim to the violence
of the mob, his secret would have died
with him. Now great hopes are entertain
ed that the .instigator of the plot may be
discovered, and already suspicion points
to a notable of the Shah persuasion. On
my return from the Grand ShereefS house,
1 met crowds of excited Mahomeda us all
pouring in the opposite direction. vowing
that they would drag the assassin from
his prison and tear him to pieces. They
were civil enough to me, though they
were very noisy and violent in their
gestures. Fortunately the police stood
firm, and the Governor, addressing the
crowd, explained to them that by killing
the prisoner they would defeat the ends of