The matter blew over for
a time, but the attack was renewed again in 1871, and there was constant
friction going on the whole time of Burton's sojourn at Damascus between
himself and the missionary and his wife and their friends, who were very
influential persons in Syria.
2. _His squabble with the Druzes_.--This occurred in 1870. Here we
find Burton protecting the missionaries against certain Druzes, who had
plundered and maltreated two English missionaries travelling amongst
them. Burton's method of punishing the Druzes was summary. He wished
to impose a fine upon them. This the Consul-General at Beyrout refused
to impose, and again Burton came into conflict with his Consul-General.
It was obvious that, whether the Druzes deserved to be fined or not,
the man to impose the fine was not the British Consul, but the Turkish
Governor-General, as they were Turkish subjects. In this matter
therefore, although Burton acted with the best intentions, he exceeded
his jurisdiction.
3. _His dispute with the Jews_.--This was one of the most serious
affairs in which Burton was engaged; and here again, though there is no
doubt that he was perfectly right in what he did, his manner of doing it
gave dire offence. He curbed the rapacity of some Jewish money-lenders,
under British protection, who wished to "sweat" the native peasantry for
the payment of their unjust debts, and desired the British Consul to help
them in their extortions.
Pages:
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157