Upon the other hand, he sometimes happened on eccentrics who rejoiced his heart.

An American admiral, on shore in Palestine for two days, asked only one thing: to be shown the tree on which Judas Iscariot had hanged himself, in order that he might defile it in a natural manner and so attest his faith.

Suleyman was able to conduct him to the very tree, and to make the journey occupy exactly the time specified.

The American was satisfied, and wrote him out a handsome testimonial.
It must have been a hardship for Suleyman--a man by nature sensitive and independent--to take his orders from some kinds of tourists and endure their rudeness.

If left alone to manage the whole journey, he was--I have been told, and I can well believe it--the best guide in Syria, devoting all his energies to make the tour illuminating and enjoyable; if heckled or distrusted, he grew careless and eventually dangerous, intent to play off jokes on people whom he counted enemies.
One Englishman, with a taste for management but little knowledge of the country, and no common sense, he cruelly obeyed in all things, with the natural result in loss of time and loss of luggage, sickness and discomfort.