Page:Domestic Life in Palestine.pdf/111

104 in a body, preceded by their kawasses, carrying their swords and tall silver-headed sticks, going toward the Governor's castle, which was in sight. My brother ran up for a moment to tell me that Tîreh and the villages in its neighborhood had united to attack Hâifa, and three or four hundred of the peasantry were just outside the walls, attempting to effect an entrance. We were actually in a state of siege. The two gates were closed and guarded, and wherever its walls were very weak, detachments of impromptu volunteers were placed. I sat alone watching, and wondering what would happen. Men were parading the streets, making a great noise, and armed with old guns, staves, and swords of all shapes. The boys followed their example by marching about with sticks, shouting lustily, seemingly half for fun and half for fear. I could hear the firing of guns now and then from the back of the town, and the loud screams of the terrified women and children.

Girls from the neighboring houses and the court below flocked into my room, with their mothers, crying and trembling. They wondered why Madam Inglesi, as they called me, did not show any signs of fear. I tried to calm them, saying, "Be at rest, Allah is good." But they almost nonplused me by replying, "Allah is good! Praised be Allah! But the sons of Tîreh are bad!" And they refused to be comforted.

A group of heavily-armed, mounted horsemen were prancing about, as if to excite all the people to action. The consuls returned from the castle, where a council had been held. They had drawn up a protest against the Government, and signed it. I was told that four of the most venturesome of the attacking party had been shot under the south wall, and some of our townspeople had been slightly wounded. The Tîrehites had retreated; but as it was expected that they would renew the attack at night, preparations were made to resist it; for the walls of Hâifa are not very strong, and could easily be scaled or broken down.