BETHLEHEM TO JAFFA. 429 . 
interested in the result of their debate than we chap. 
IX 
imagined ; for the discussion tended to nothing ■ '/ • 
less than a determination, whether or not we 
should be considered as prisoners of war. As 
soon as they all rose, the Sheik came towards 
us, and told us, that we might pass the night 
where we then were ; that we were indebted 
for our liberty to the presence of the Arab we 
had brought with us, and to the recommen- 
dation of the Pasha of Acre; that the counte- 
nance of the Governor of Jerusalem availed 
nothing in our favour ; that in the morning he 
should mount upwards of one thousand Arabs 
against the Pasha of Gaza ; but that he would 
send a party to escort us as far as Rama. It 
may be easily believed, that after this inteUi- 
gence of our situation we passed the night in 
considerable uneasiness. We had the tent 
pitched ; but we collected into it all those upon 
whom we could rely, and stationed others 
around it; keeping guard until day-light ap- 
peared, when we recommenced our journey. 
The Arabs appointed to guaranty our safety, 
took their station, as the young chief had done 
on the preceding evening, in the front of our 
party, bearing their long lances upright. In 
this manner they preceded us until we ar- 
rived within sight of Rama, when^ suddenly 
