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THE SECRET OF THE HTTTIES By C . .V. Ceram
Translated from the German by- Richard and Clara Winston
New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1956
Two Amer at Hamath...
and sipns."... As soon as Johnson approached the stones, intending
to touch them, the natives raised a hue and cry, gesticulated frantically and looked to be on the point of attacking him
In 1872 the governor of Syria... Subhi paşa... hearing of the
Hamath stones stones, permitted the Reverend William Wright to accompany him on an inspection tour. Meanwhile two other ^roups^of travelers
had been in Hamath and made vain attempts to see thevnow notorious stones. But Wrigh-L.had the support of the governor -.The paşa sent soldiers. With their assistance Wright chiseled the stones out of the the part of the natives who were firmly convinced that these stones were theii* remedy against rlS^matism - as the Aleppo stone^ was supposed to cure ophthalmia.
With the stones temporarily deposited in the pasafs guest-house, one of the bearers reported that the streets were swarming with angry mobs. Rumor had it that fanatics intended.to storm the building and
an armed guard, he went ott/tinto the streets. All eyes were fixed on him, with hatred and menace. He addressed the mob, assuring them that
the paşa would pflLy them ample compensation for the stones. The crlwd flung back scornful replies ; they knew, they said, what such proftfses were worth. Seeing their mood, Wright took a stronger line. They must disperse and go about their business. If there were any violence, he
said, the paşa would mete out dreadful nunishments.
He returned to the guest house in a state of intense Uneasiness. "It was an anxious an sleepless night", he noted.
ML The night passed without incident. The following morning Subhi paşa,
to the speechless amazement of the inhabitants, paid the promised price. But the indignation which firm words had temporarily suppressed and
money had placated flamed up once more. Wild dervishes rushed through destroy the stones rather than
said to be on tne side of the people of Hamath.
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the streets crying aloud that a fiery rain of stars had descended during the night. The meiİor shower had, as a matter of fact, been unusually orilliant. The people sent a delegation to the paşa, for was this not a sign from Heaven that the stones should not be removed ?
The paşa considered the question for a long time. Then he asked whether the falling sta^s had done any damage. Had any people or dometic animals been killed ? The delegates admitted that nothing of! the sort had happened. Whereupon the paşa asked a Solomonfs question : what better sign of Heaven's consent could there have been than that splendid display in the sky ?
That settlfcd the question. The trouble subsided. The stones were shipped off to Constantinople. William Wright was given permission to take impressions of them, and these were sent to the BritiSj^Museum.
Chapter I
Discovery and wild surmise
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