Page:Palestine Exploration Fund - Quarterly Statement for 1894.djvu/139

Rh from a spring in the high land above the castle by a channel cut as a groove in the rock, lined with tiles. High up above the ledge is cut a niche in the cliff in the form of a pointed arch. There are holes as if for beam-ends in the rock at the base of the cliff. Over the cliff water-spouts project from the ledge.

The view from this lofty ledge is magnificent. A visit to the place would, I am sure, stir the romantic feeling latent in the most commonplace mind. A stranger ignorant of the history of the Lebanon would at once feel the necessity of inventing a tale of chieftains, and of sieges, and all sorts of adventure. History, however, furnishes us a tale ready made fully romantic enough to harmonise with the surroundings. The history of the Lebanon has no more picturesque figure than that of the Emir Fukhredeen Ma'an. The Ma'ans became prominent during the early part of the seventeenth century, but their ancestors, Arab Sheikhs who had lived near Aleppo from the fifth century, emigrated to the Southern Lebanon in 821. They became well established in the mountains and, early in the eleventh century, accepted the teachings of Darazi, the follower of Hakem, and thus gave origin to the Druzes. For more than seven centuries after these Arab tribes appeared in the Lebanon the over-lordship was held by the family of Tanuch. Local affairs thus continued in their hands under the dominion of Saracens, Franks, and Egyptians. Under them the feudal system which has broken down in Lebanon only within the last 30 years became perfected. After the Turkish conquest, however, the Tanuch family lost power. In 1516 Sultan Selim entered Damascus, and on his return to that city the next year, after the conquest of Egypt, the Emir Fukhredeen Ma'an I sought his protection and favour. His submission was rewarded and the Sultan invested him with the government of the mountains from Joppa to Tripoli.

From this time the Ma'ans became the ruling power. The Emir Fukhredeen II passed his youth under the care of a Maronite Sheikh, to whom he had been sent during a time of trouble. Later on we find him ruling in Lebanon and joining in a conspiracy against the Sultan. He even laid siege to Damascus and extorted a large ransom for its deliverance. An army of 50,000 men was sent against him by the Sultan. Large as was this army, it is doubtful whether it would have overcome the Emir's forces could he have had the loyal following of the other Sheikhs. But the Sultan relied upon the jealousies of the chieftains and not in vain, for the Shehaabs, a rival family, joined the Sultan and cut to pieces the Emir's forces near the Jordan. This spirit of local faction has always been characteristic of the Lebanon and has been successfully calculated upon by all who have had to rule over this people. Somewhat daunted by the defection of the Shehaabs, the Emir made a general appeal to the loyalty of the other Sheikhs, but they responded so feebly that he suddenly sailed for Europe, an undertaking so rare in those days that it shows a startling independence of character.

Great was the excitement in Pisa during the winter of 1615. One of