to 1840, Druse and Maronite lived on terms of intimacy and friendship. At that period, however, dissension sprung up between the two tribes, and proved to be the introduction to years of intermittent warfare. The strife reached its climax in 1860. From May to Oct. of that year, accounts of the fearful barbarities practiced by the D. upon the Maronites followed each other with appalling frequency, until the indignation of Europe was roused against them. A conference of the five powers which had guaranteed the independence of Turkey met at Paris, and it was resolved that a French army should proceed to Syria to chastise the D., and that, at the same time, a European commission should, on the spot, make inquiry as to the facts. The troops reached Syria in Aug., 1860. They could not, however, get at the D., who retired into the desert of the IIaouran. In the meanwhile, it was ascertained beyond all doubt that the Turks, and the low fanatical mob of Damascus (who have frequently been confounded with the D., because they fomented their passions), were mainly chargeable with the crimes that had been committed; and that the retaliation of the Maronites was equally vindictive and horrible. It is stated that the Maronite leaders—in most cases bishops—on being asked to furnish sworn lists of such of the D. as, from the unusual atrocity of their crimes, were worthy of death, sent in a list demanding 4,946 heads; refusing, however, to bring forward any particular charges. Punishment was-inflicted on those who were really to blame. While the French troops remained in Syria, the Turks were compelled to punish the chief Mohammedan criminals, a considerable num ber of whom, including Achniet Pasha, the governor of Damascus, were shot. In June,
1861, the troops returned to France, and the commissioners drew up a new constitution for the Lebanon, finally revised and signed on 6th Sept., 1864. Under it, the Lebanon is to be ruled by a Christian governor, appointed by the Porte; and to be divided into seven districts, under chiefs of the prevalent religion in each. The result was the appointment, as governor, of Daoud Pasha, an Armenian Christian, and of 7 chiefs (4 Maronite, 1 Druse, 1 orthodox Greek, and 1 separatist Greek). • The constitu tion did not satisfy the Maronites, whose revolt, under Joseph Karam, kept the Leba non in a very unsettled state till 1867. During this period, the governor had to restrain the D. from attacking the Maronite villages in the absence of their defenders. The D. are about 80,000 in number; they are a brave, handsome, and industrious people, and can almost all read and write. They had no superior educational establishment until Daoud Pasha founded and endowed one at Abey. Polygamy is unknown among them. They have, with incredible toil, carried the soil of the valleys up and along the hillsides, which are laid out in terraces, planted with mulberry, olive, and vine. Their chief trade is the manufacture of silk. Corn is also raised, though in very small quantity. Deir-el-Kammar is the principal town. See Druses of the Lebanon, by the earl of Car narvon ; Guy's La Nation Druse.