CHAPTER XXXIII. 
THE BATTLE OF THE MULETEERS. 
This morning, before leaving Baneas, a terrible battle took 
place between my dragoman Yusef and the muleteers. I 
caution the reader not to be alarmed for my safety, when I 
state, that on an average, we have a battle every day. Neither 
do I claim any great merit as a military man, on account of 
the coolness with which I witness the strife of the contending 
parties; because, to be candid, I always contrive to occupy 
some elevated position at a safe distance from the scene of 
action, where I sit smoking my chibouck very pleasantly till 
the conclusion of the fight. Besides, I know that Yusef is 
bound to conquer, because he not only carries all the arms, 
but is perpetually so boiling over with courage, that even 
when there is no real enemy at hand, he shoots the air and 
kills a great many imaginary enemies. Under these circum¬ 
stances I feel a confidence in the result that is very cheering. 
The cause of the present difficulty was this, as well as I could 
learn : The muleteers having found some old acquaintances 
at Baneas, had spent the night in smoking and talking. When 
the time arrived for starting they were in a sound sleep. 
f Yusef tried, by all manner of pushing and shouting, to wake 
them up ; but the more he tried the more they remained fast 
asleep. The effect seemed rather to be agreeable than other¬ 
wise. At last, bereft of all patience, and aided by Francesco, 
he caught them by the legs and dragged them out of doors, 
where he eventually brought them to life, both by personal 
violence and a fierce torrent of abuse. “ Now,” said he, as I 
judged from his tone and manner, “if those mules are not 
ready in ten minutes, I’ll flog every one of you ! I’ll then cut 
