_Sept. 17th._--In the morning En-Noor sent a message that we must
immediately move from our present encampment on our sand-hills, a
quarter of a mile from the town, where we had a pleasant view of
everything in the valley and around, and come near the people. So in the
course of the day we pitched tents close by the houses of the town. We
found that we were not so much molested by the inhabitants (i.e. by
their curiosity) as we expected.
I had heard in the previous evening that En-Noor, two or three days ago,
had written, by means of one of the learned men of this place, to all
the towns and villages around him, begging the Sheikhs and people not to
offer us any molestation whilst we were residing here, under his
immediate protection, as his guests, and as sacred persons recommended
to his care. This shows good-will in the venerable Sultan. He sent to us
this morning the result of the Kadi's decision, respecting the robbers.
This singular question was put to the Kadi, "Whether it was lawful to
rob and murder the Christians by night?" Answer, "No; on the contrary,
the Christians may fire on and kill the Muslim robbers." The Sultan, it
appears, attaches great importance to this decision, and counts on it to
obtain the suffrages of all his people in our favour.
Such are the circumstances attending the first visit of Christians to
Aheer! I believe this attack will do our servants good.
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