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The intelligence of the
terrible massacres in Syria, conveyed to this country from week to week,
has justly excited feelings of horror and indignation in the minds of
all classes of the community. Some of the atrocities committed were
scarcely equalled by the very worst scenes in the great Indian tragedy.
Not only have the Druzes, the hereditary enemies of the Christians, been
engaged in this work of carnage, but they have been aided and abetted by
the Mohammedans. The Turkish regular troops, in most instances, looked
on with their customary indifference, muttering, doubtless, a hearty
liamdillali (God be praised) at the death of each kafir. In some cases
they seem to have even betrayed helpless Christians into the hands of
their foes, and in one or two instances at least, they aided the Druzes
in their wholesale murders. It has been asserted, too, that the Pashas
of Damascus and Sidon were privy to a foul conspiracy for the total
extermination of the whole Christian population. Such is the opinion of
some of our own countrymen resident on the spot. But be this as it may,
their acts hitherto have only been calculated to fan the flame of war
and bloodshed. Details arc still wanting. The accounts which have
reached us are vague, and many of them are, doubtless, exaggerated. I
shall endeavour to give the leading facts in this sad history, so far as
they are known.
The question is frequently asked, “Who are these Druzes?” A brief answer
is necessary to the full understanding of the present state of matters.
In the beginning of the eleventh century, a Persian, called ed-Derazy,
settled in Wady et-Teim, at the base of Mount Hermon, and founded a new
sect. He taught a kind of semi-materialism, affirming that the Deity,
during different periods, had resided in a number of men, the last of
whom was the notorious Khalif Hakim of Egypt; and that He has five
superior ministers always existing, the chief of whom is Christ. To this
was added the doctrine of the transmigration of souls, and a number of
tenets more political than religious in their bearing. His followers
took the name Druzes. They are divided into two classes, Initiated and
Ignorant. With the former, all the rites and forms, peculiar to their
faith, remain strictly secret. They assemble in their chapels every
Thursday evening, and not only refuse admission to all others, but
establish a strict guard outside so as to prevent the possibility of
being seen or overheard. The figure of a calf has been found in their
places of worship, but what it is used for none can tell. It appears
that these secret meetings are more for the purpose of obtaining and
communicating political information than for religious exercises. They
are closely knit together by the ties of brotherhood, and the rapidity
with which news is propagated throughout the whole body is astonishing.
Their religion, at least outwardly, is very accommodating. With the
Mohammedans they live as Mohammedans, that they may benefit from their
alliance, but they curse and revile them in private, as the writer can
testify from personal knowledge. With the Christian officers of England
they were willing, not many years ago, to profess Christianity, that
they might get the protection of this country. They are industrious and
hospitable when at peace, but in war they are noted for their daring
ferocity. Being thus united in one firm body, being trained to arms from
childhood, and possessing all the ardour, activity, and robust strength
of mountaineers, they constitute one of the strongest parties in Syria.
They occupy that section of the chain of Lebanon which lies south of the
Damascus and Beyrout road. They also abound in villages on the eastern
and western declivities of Hermon, and in Ilauriln. The total number of
the Druzes is about 80,000.
The Maronites are Papists. They inhabit, almost exclusively, the
northern section of Lebanon, and they have besides many scattered
villages in the Druze country. Their number amounts to more than 200,000
souls. The Maronites and Druzes are hereditary enemies, a blood-feud
having existed between them for many generations. Of this the Turkish
authorities have frequently taken advantage, fanning the flame of
discord so as to weaken both parties. Of this, too, Moslem fanatics take
advantage, so as to secure an opportunity of murdering the Christians.
In the present war the Maronites are said to have been the aggressors,
and it is moro than hinted that they were urged on by French agents, so
as to secure for France a plea for interference. It is behoved that the
Druzes were excited on the other hand by the Turks, and it is certain
that the first battle between them took place in presence of an
encampment of regular troops, who could easily have prevented it had
they wished to interfere.
When the signal was given, the Druze population rose to a man. Nearly
the whole of tho Christian villages in their country were captured and
burnt. Deir el-Kamr, a small town about six hours from Beyrout, is the
capital and key of Southern Lebanon. It contains a large palace or
castle, strongly situated, and occupied by a garrison of nearly 1000
regular soldiers. The town is inhabited by Christians, who defended
thomselves nobly for many days against tlie whole Druze forces. Their
provisions at length failed. Their critical position being known in
Beyrout, the foreign consuls and merchants volunteered to go if tlie
Pasha would give them a small escort, and conduct the Christians of Deir
el-Kamr to their city. This was refused. The Turkish garrison now
offered them protection if they would give up their arms. They did so ;
and that very day the Druzes, invited it is said by the soldiers, rushed
upon their now helpless victims, and massacred the whole male
population!
Many of the Christians of Southern Lebanon fled to Sidon for refuge. The
Moslems rose against them, and, aided by tho soldiers in tho garrison,
murdered more than two hundred of them in the streets and at the gates.
The whole Christian population of that town would unquestionably have
fallen a sacrifice to this outburst of Moslem fanaticism, had it not
been for the timely arrival of Her Majesty’s war-steamer “Fire-Fly.”
At the western base of Mount Hermon lies the little town of Hasbeya,
containing a mixed population of Druzes and Christians. Tlie latter are
not Maronites, and had, therefore, nothing to do with the war; yet they
were attacked by the Druzes from Ilauriln. They took refuge in the
palace of the native prince, and besought the Turkish garrison to save
them. The Turks did nothing. The Druzes captured the palace, dragged the
helpless Christians out in twos and threes, and hewed them to pieces
before the gate! Two only escaped. One of these was a Protestant, who
fled to Damascus, and gave a detailed account of this fearful tragedy to
tlie Rev. Mr. Robson.
Zalileh, the largest town in Lebanon, containing a population of 12,000
Christians, was next attacked. After an obstinate defence it was taken,
pillaged, partly burnt, and more than a thousand of its inhabitants put
to the sword.
Blud&n is a little -village high up in Anti-Le-banon, far removed from
the seat of war. It contains from three to four hundred quiet,
inoffensive Christians, chiefly Greeks. It forms the summer quarters of
the British consul of Damascus, and the missionaries. Tliis village was
suddenly surrounded by a large body of Druzes and Mohammedans, who
brought out the whole male Christian population with their two priests,
and at the sword’s point forced them to declare themselves Mohammedans,
and submit to the rite of circumcision!
When these tidings reached Damascus, they kindled all the hereditary
fanaticism of the Moslem population. For weeks before, their insolence
to the poor Christians had been intolerable. The latter were forced to
abandon their businesses, close their shops, and shut themselves up in
their houses. Day after day, and night after night, death seemed to
stare them in the face. At length the rabble rose, and though the
garrison consists of more than 6000 regular troops, with some thirty
cannon, no effective means were taken to oppose them. Five hundred
Christians are said to have been murdered; all the foreign consulates,
except the English, were burnt. Tho Dutch consul was killed, and the
American consul was wounded. The reason why the English consulate
escaped, was probably the fact that it is in the Mohammedan quarter, and
is situated closo to tho Great Mosquo. The American consul is well known
to many in this land. He was one of tho first fruits of the Damascus
mission. Ilis great talents and influence have been devoted for more
than ten years to the advancement of gospel truth among his countrymen.
The announcement that Dr. Meshalcah has been seriously wounded, and that
his house has been burned to the ground, will bo received with feelings
of deepest sorrow by all who love the Lord Jesus in Britain.
Such are a few, and only a few of the leading facts in this terrible
tragedy. One of the Damascus missionaries writes that the details have
been unequalled for gross brutality and savage barbarity sinco the days
of Tamerlane. Whole districts have been laid waste. Upwards of one
hundred and fifty villages have been burned to ashes. More than 70,000
persons have been left homeless and reduced to beggary. From twelve to
fourteen thousand Christians have been murdered. Ten thousand widows and
fatherless daughters are wandering in despair among the mountains, and
through the streets of the great cities. Hundreds of others, after
seeing husbands or brothers slaughtered, have been torn away to the
harems of the brutal Moslems!
Can England sit calmly by and listen to these harrowing details ? Will
not common humanity constrain her people to call with one united voice
for justice ? Has not the blood of English soldiers, shed in the Crimea,
bought for our Government a right to interfere for the prevention of
such atrocities and the punishment of the perpetrators ? Have we not a
right to insist that Christianity should be no longer treated as a crime
in the Turkish empire ? If England do not interfere, and vigorously too,
France and Russia will. The Turks will doubtless invent excuses, and
make large and sweeping promises ; but English politicians ought to know
by this time, that Turkish excuses are uniformly lies, and that their
promises have never been fulfilled. The blame may be laid on the
Maronites. But even though they were the aggressors, surely this can
never excuse or palliate the conduct of the Turkish troops and high
officials. Why did the Mohammedans join in the massacre of Christians at
Sidon, Deir el-Kamr, Hasbeya, and Damascus! Why are the whole Christian
inhabitants of Beyrout, Jerusalem, Hums, Aleppo, and other places, kept
in a state of constant alarm by the threats, insults, and unprovoked
assaults of the Mohammedans? These are questions which England has a
legitimate right to ask, and which Turkey ought to be compelled at once,
and satisfactorily to answer. The conclusion of peace between Druzes and
Maronites does not affect these questions. The lives of peaceable
Christians must be protected now, and sufficient guarantees must be
given for their future safety. Full compensation must be made for
property wantonly destroyed, and such public order restored that
Christian merchants shall be able to resume their business. Above all,
those guilty of the unprovoked and cruel attacks on the Christians of
Damascus, Bludlln, Hasbeya, and Sidon, whether they be Turkish soldiers,
or Syrian fanatics, must be summarily and publicly punished, ifntil this
be done, there can be no peace or safety for the Christians of Syria.
Since the preceding lines were written, new and still more fearful
intelligence has come from Syria. Every additional fact, every harrowing
detail, tends to confirm the truth of the opinion expressed above, that
the Turkish officials, from the highest to the lowest, have fostered
this outburst of Moslem fanaticism. The tragedy at Damascus has been far
more terrible than was at first supposed. The whole of the Christian and
Jewish quarters of the city have been left in ashes. Six thousand houses
have thus been burnt, and some thirty thousand inoffensive and
industrious people have been made houseless and homeless beggars. The
exact number of victims none can tell; but according to the latest
advices, they amounted to from three to four thousand—all butchered in
cold blood! Alas! among these must now be reckoned one of the Irish
Presbyterian missionaries, the Rev. Wm. Graham. Mr. Graham lay hid for a
time in a Moslem house; but not considering himself safe there, he got
an escort of Turkish soldiers, and attempted to reach the British
Consulate. The mob came upon him; the soldiers basely deserted him
without an attempt at resistance; and in a moment he was hewn to pieces.
This is one among the many instances of Mohammedan gratitude to England
for millions of treasure expended, and thousands of lives sacrificed in
defence of a rotten throne, and of a barbarous and bloodstained race!
The Pasha of Damascus knew full well that the Christians were in danger,
and that their total extermination had been planned. Mr. Brant, the
English consul, and the Rev. Mr. Robson of the Irish Presbyterian
Mission, at the risk of their own lives, went no less than six times to
the palace, and besought the authorities to take steps for the defence
of the Christians. It was in vain. The Governor had 6000 regular troops
at his disposal, and not less than thirty pieces of cannon; and yet he
did nothing!
On Monday, July 9th, at 2 o’clock p.m., some three hundred of the lowest
Moslem rabble, accompanied by about as many more boys and women, rushed
into the Christian quarter, shouting the well-known war-cry of their
forefathers, UlWiu Akbar! A few of them had guns, and the rest swords,
daggers, and sticks. It deserves special remark, that not a single Druze
was then in or near the city. The work of plunder, burning, and
slaughter immediately began. Late in the evening, about 300 soldiers and
four guns were sent against the mob; but no sooner did they reach the
scene, than they joined in plundering, and such as did not do so,
actually used their arms to massacre the fleeing Christians. The whole
Christian quarter was soon one mass of flames; and as the poor inmates
of the houses, men, women, and children, tried to escape from the fire,
they were thrust back on the burning piles by the bayonets of the
Turkish troops! For this act of almost incredible barbarity, we have the
positive authority of a European eye-witness who was hiding in the
neighbourhood all that fearful night. An Englishman, who was likewise on
the spot, writes, that from the very first, the mob cried out that the
soldiers were on their side; and they used this as an inducement to
their brother fanatics “to kill all the dogs of Christians, not to spare
one; to burn their houses, dishonour their wives, and tear their
children in pieces.”
The following details and startling facts are from a private letter from
the Rev. Smylie Robson. Mr. Robson’s house fortunately stands within the
Moslem quarter, and is the property of a family of high rank. To this he
owes his safety, if indeed he be yet safe. The street which passes his
door, is the main avenue from the very worst districts of the city to
the Christian quarter, and along it rushed the great stream of
blood-thirsty fanatics. He thus writes— .... “ We have made a peephole
over the street, from which we can see and hear without being seen ; for
if seen, we should probably very soon be disposed of. If my neighbours
do not betray me, I may possibly escape, but there are some of them not
to be trusted. We are not in human hands, but in the hands of One
infinitely good as well as infinitely powerful, and without his
permission nothing can befall us. All this last fearful night, Turkish
soldiers and Moslem men, women, and children, continued to pour past my
door in one unbroken stream, all laden with spoil, most drunk with blood
and rapine, all blaspheming the name of Christ and Christians, in shouts
fearful to hear and too horrid to repeat. ... I believe it would not
have needed a great effort on the part of the Government to prevent all
this ; but not the slightest effort lias yet been made. There were
soldiers in the Christian quarter, others were sent in the evening with
four guns, and more this (Tuesday, 10th) morning, but they have not at
all interfered with the ruffians. Yet a majority of the miscreants are
actually women, boys, and girls. I could affirm that there arc not in
all moro than a few hundred men—say 500—mostly tho lowest of the low,
and miserably armed, not one in twenty has a gun. Opposite my door is a
sort of stopping-place for them, and we can overhear their talk ; and I
can affirm, that from the first, and all through, they have the greatest
dread of the interference of the soldiers, and constantly ask one
another, when they meet, whether the soldiers in such and such a
direction arc stopping the murderers or opposing them, and this although
during seventeen hours the soldiers have been perfectly passive. I
believe firmly that 100, or at the most 200 soldiers, or armed resolute
men not soldiers, could have put down the insurrection at tho worst
moment. ’’
Such is the testimony of one of the most experienced and talented
English residents in tho East. It is hoped that liis words will arrest
the attention of the Government, and rouse the righteous indignation of
the people of England. Tlie Pasha of Damascus, and the Turkish garrison,
aro guilty before God and man of tho blood of 4000 murdered Christians.
They are doubly guilty of the blood of our countryman, whom they
undertook to protect, and whom they basely and treacherously abandoned
to his fate. A widowed mother, weeping over the untimely and cruel death
of an only son, her only earthly support, calls for justice. And let it
be remembered, the lives of several of our countrymen and countrywomen
are still exposed to the fury of a lawless mob and a brutal soldiery. If
vigorous measures be not immediately used by England and France, they
and the whole Christian population of Damascus will unquestionably be
massacred. The writer knows tho Turks well, and he deliberately affirms
that no faith can be put in any of their promises, from the Sultan to
the meanest of his subjects: and he further affirms, that no Turk will
ever act against his co-religionists until he is driven to it by fear of
a foreign power.
J. L. P.
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