Page:Domestic Life in Palestine.pdf/325

318 was a well-known and rather favorite character in Nablûs. He was deaf and dumb, and slightly deranged in intellect, and consequently was superstitiously respected by the Arabs, and was yet, at the same time, an object of their amusement. He was a professed beggar, and very importunate. It appeared that he stopped Mr. Lyde's horse, near to the Nablûs Gate, and, by signs and gestures, besought alms, which were refused. When Mr. Lyde tried to pass on, the deceased caught hold of the end of a loaded pistol, which was in the holster of the saddle, and unfortunately cocked. Mr. Lyde, knowing the danger, endeavored to remove his hand. In doing so, the pistol went off, and the man was killed on the spot. Mr. Lyde was immediately surrounded, but he hastened to the Governor, and gave himself up as prisoner. [Mr. Lyde did not long survive this calamity. His mind became very seriously affected. He imagined himself to be the Redeemer of the world. A visit to England in 1858, however, dispelled the delusion; and he returned to his missionary work in the East, in apparently good health, but died, very much regretted, shortly afterward.]

By the 15th of April Jerusalem was thronged with people. The population was nearly doubled by the influx of Russian, Greek, and Armenian pilgrims, who had come to pass the Holy Week—old style—in the Holy City, to visit the neighboring shrines which they reverence, and to attend the Easter services in the Church of the Sepulcher. Every day added to the number of these earnest devotees. Most of them are poor people, who have saved a sufficient sum of money to enable them to perform the pilgrimage. They generally return home quite penniless, but happy in having realized the great object of all their struggles. There were, however, a few pilgrims who were distinguished by rank, office, or wealth, and who traveled with brilliant cavalcades.

On the 24th of April I was roused at three o'clock by the booming of cannons from the citadel. They flashed