'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎550] (641/905)

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MANNERS OF THE DRUSES.
[CHAP. XXI.
Houses of the contain more than one apartment, with the addition of a kind
Druses - of arcade, or else a verandah covering the door, which not un-
frequently is the only aperture of the dwelling. A fire-place
in the centre, a raised diwan at one side, and several cupboards
recessed in the walls, constitute the furniture of the interior;
but a terraced roof, shaded by mulberry and pomegranate trees,
serves as a second room, and is the sleeping place in summer,
as well as the chief resort of the family ; passengers also occupy
it occasionally, for as the roof of one house is the ordinary
passage to that of a higher building, the terraces are common
to all persons, but a stranger must not enter the dwelling
itself; the Druses are, however, disposed to live in harmony
with Christians, though they do not intermarry. Arabic is
the language spoken.
Their character. Patient industry, in which the females largely share, deter
mined valour, extreme pride of birth, hospitality, extending to
the unflinching protection of strangers, deadly feuds among
themselves, an absence of respect for the ties of blood, the
dread of a public insult, and exceeding love of their romantic
country, are some of the leading characteristics of these
mountaineers. Those of Shohba and the Haouran are less
marked in point of character, having become more assimilated
to their neighbours of other creeds.
Religion. Their religious rites are but little known, but they have a
priesthood, of which the first class is the Akkal, or initiated,
who have charge of the schools, and perform certain unknown
ceremonies every Thursday in their closed and guarded
oratories, the women being part of the assemblage. Islamism
was introduced among them by Hakim, Khaliph of Egypt, in
1030; when in public they perform its rites, but in private it
is otherwise, and they are said to abhor all religions except
their own. 1 In order to conceal their religious opinions the
more effectually, they always, on being questioned concerning
them, profess to be of the same faith as the inquirer, whether
he be Christian, or Muslim, or Pagan. 2 They keep a register
of births, and cannot disinherit their children; they do not
1 Burckhardt's Travels in Syria, p. 201.
8 Benjamin of Tudela says they are heathens and unbelievers, who confess
no religion.—By A. Asher,vol. L, p. 61.