In the year 1840 a cry rang out through Lebanon, calling the men of patriotism and gal-lantry to revolt... The Egyptian commander, victorious over the Astana, was trampling on the traditions and independence of the Lebanese: stripping them of their arms, conscripting their young men for forced labor, imposing taxes upon them... And the Emir of Lebanon, his ally against the Turks, was upholding his reckless policy.

Ibrahim Pasha had blundered, and Emir Bashir followed him in his blunder, and the Astana exploited the blunder... And the powers that coveted the "Sick Man" stretched out their hands, to curb Egypt's tyranny and to keep her away from "the gate of the East." It was natural, then, that the cry of the Lebanese rebels should find supporters at home and abroad.

And in the forefront of those who sent up that resounding cry were the two heroes of Lebanon in that day: Abu Samra Ghanem al-Bkassini, and Yusuf Agha al-Shintiri.

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Yusuf al-Shintiri was born in Bikfaya in the year 1808, and inclined to horsemanship from his tenderest years. He hated coddling and "pampering" in the arms of his family and kin... He wanted to be a hero... to gird on the sword, carry the rifle, ride the horse, and defend homeland and right... And when he felt sure of his ability to do so, he entered the service of Emir Bashir.

The first deed he performed,

and in which his heroism showed itself, was his entry into Mukhtara at the head of a company of his men, taking it by force — in the Emir's name — after he had slain with the sword the chief of its defenders, Ali Hilal. That was in the year 1825, when he was still in his seventeenth year.

From then on his star shone, his fame spread, people talked of him, and to belong to him and rally beneath his banner became the ambition of every horseman.

Our hero was not a man of learning; yet he loved history and loved listening to its tales, especially the tales of the French Revolution — and those tales were then on every lip. He would strain his ears toward them, comparing the causes that had roused the French people with their like in his own homeland, and wishing that in this home-land there were a people ready for revolt, that he might lead them to the field of liberation and glory.

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The first signs of discontent with Ibrahim Pasha's policy, and with Emir Bashir's support of that policy — as has been said — began to appear, and our hero saw that the time had come for a decisive act... Abu Samra Ghanem al-Bkassini was the horseman of horsemen of that age, so he approached him secretly and said to him:

— Lebanon is in danger, O father of horsemen... Does any-thing prevent you from coming to its aid?

Abu Samra was in the service of Emir Bashir, and he said:

— But I am in the Emir's ser-vice, as you know, Abu Qublan.

Yusuf said with heat:

— Service to the Emir is a duty so long as it serves the country, and it becomes treason when it conflicts with the national interest.

Abu Samra was no less patriotic and zealous than Abu Qublan, and he had wanted to test his comrade; when he was assured of the sincerity of his resolve, he said firmly:

— Had you not come to me, Abu Qublan, I would have gone to you... Here is my hand... and let us march to life or to death.

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And the two heroes blew the trumpet of revolt.

And the Mountain poured forth its men to rally beneath their banner.

And they made the general headquarters of the revolt in the plain of Beirut.

Ibrahim Pasha learned of this and sent to reproach Emir Bashir for the appearance of that movement in his lands, calling on him to put an end to it by his wisdom and firmness. The Emir sent to threaten the rebels, and their answer was:

— We do not fear threats. We have demands from which we shall not swerve. We set you up as ruler to spread justice: if you are for us, then be just; if not... blame us not if we let the sword decide.

And when he asked them their demands, they answered:

— We will pay no more than a single miri tax... You will dismiss Boutros Karameh from your diwan...

...You will set up a consultative council with two members from every sect... You will lift the corvée from us, and leave us the