1 78 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST: 



customary with painters, he now and then in the course of 

 the work placed one of his pencils in his mouth, in order 

 to keep it separate from those in the left hand, whilst using 

 another with the right. This was observed by those who 

 stood watching his operations from beneath the terrace, and 

 they imagined, in consequence, that he was smoking. The 

 rumour first spread about in whispers one to another, and 

 as the impression became confirmed, a general indignation 

 manifested itself ; and loud exclamations were soon heard, 

 that the feringhee ( frank ) was committing sacrilege by 

 smoking in their sacred place. The people speedily in- 

 creased in numbers, and a clamorous mob soon surrounded 

 the palace. The artist was at first unconscious of the cause 

 of the gathering, but he soon became aware by their shouts 

 and threats, that he was in some way the object of their 

 fury, and that he was consequently in a dangerous position. 

 He had no sooner, however, made up his mind that his best 

 policy would be to effect his escape, if possible, unperceiv- 

 ed ; when some of the ringleaders of the mob, who had 

 made their way through the palace, rushed upon the terrace, 

 and attempted to seize him. Being a strong and vigorous 

 man, he succeeded in wrenching himself from their grasp, 

 and made his way to the staircase, which to his dismay he 

 found crowded by the mob, who were making their way 

 up. Knowing that his only chance lay in breaking through 

 them as quickly as possible, he struck out right and left, 

 and having the advantage of being always uppermost of 

 those who attempted to stay his progress, he succeeded 

 in reaching the bottom with some few bruises, Plere, how- 

 ever, the affair presented a still more formidable aspect ; 

 fjr no sooner had he reached the foot of the staircase, 

 then he was seized by the collar and other parfs of his 

 coat by half-a-dozen of the mob, and saw at a little 

 distance the glittering of several of their weapons. He 

 gave himself up for lost, and in the energy of despair threw 

 open his coat, and taking advantage of a slight confusion at 

 the moment ( caused by a struggle to get possession of the 

 gold watch which he had held in his hand, and had at the 



