Jazzár, who was full of energy and life, and was possessed of some heroic qualities, but was a monster in human form, and a true specimen of the Eastern “_satrap_,” addressed himself to his _Katib_ for assistance and advice. _Katib_ in Arabic, like _Yazgy_ in Turkish, means no more than “writer” or “scribe,” but the office confers greater power than the name implies. The _Katib_ is often at once government secretary and treasurer; and, as he is generally a permanent official in the _pashalik_ for life, while the _pashas_ are often changed, by removal or death, it necessarily happens that he is master of the business of the _pashalik_, and of its revenues and resources, while the _pashas_, coming from distant provinces, enter upon a rule of which the key is in the _Katib’s_ hands, and are compelled to keep him in their service and to be guided by him. The _pashalik_ of Damascus was, moreover, singularly placed, in so far as its _pasha_ and chief officials had to go every year on the pilgrimage to Mecca, and consequently were more than ever bound to confide their affairs to the _Katib_. It is said that the order of march, the ordinances and regulations for the pilgrims, the quantity of provisions required and various other essential facts connected with this important occasion, had somehow become secrets in the keeping of the Jews, and that Saul Farhi was considered a great expert and a recognized authority in these matters. He had four sons: Haim, Solomon, Raphael and Moses (_ob._ 1840) and one daughter. Haim, the eldest, was initiated by his father into all the professional secrets of his office. He was a young man of excellent abilities and learning. In the early part of his life, when he was still in Damascus, the machinations of his enemies prevailed in so far that he was summoned to Constantinople to answer certain accusations made against him; and, being mulcted in a fine which he was unable to pay, he was thrown into prison. His sister, a woman of great energy, undertook the journey from Syria to Constantinople to petition for her brother’s release. She succeeded, and brought her brother back to his house. Haim’s loyalty and integrity were placed beyond doubt, and his experiences in Constantinople must have helped to give him knowledge of the laws and insight into the central government, to which he was sincerely devoted. He was then appointed by Jazzár to the post of _Katib_ or minister at Acre, where there lived at that time thirty-six Jewish families. _Jerusalem_ had, besides 9000 Moslem and Christian inhabitants, about 1000 Jews; and old communities of considerable size existed in _Tiberias_, _Safed_, _Jaffa_ and _Hebron_. Although not important in numbers, the Jews, owing to their connection with the communities of Damascus, Aleppo, Bagdad, Constantinople, Smyrna and Salonica, which possessed numerous religious schools, and big business enterprises extending as far as Egypt and India, were justly considered an important element.