After he became a Christian, his mother, finding that no Nusairy girl would marry a Christian, determined to secure a young girl and have her educated for Hammud.

So she paid four Turkish pounds for a little Nusairy girl named Zahara or Venus, whose widowed mother had removed to her village.

This payment was in accordance with Nusairy customs, and constituted the girl's dowry.

After the betrothal in 1863, Hammud sent her to Latakiah, where she was taken into the family of the late Dr.Dodds for instruction and training.

She gladly received the truth, and Hammud labored earnestly for her enlightenment.