 His protection of the local Christians and his reputed Algerian origins drew comparisons with Abd al @-@ <unk> al @-@ Jaza 'iri , the exiled Algerian rebel who saved many Christians from harm during the 1860 riots in Damascus , and with whom Aqil developed ties . Aqil realized that European protection would strengthen his position towards the Ottoman rulers . After 1860 , he courted the French , once sending a tiger as a present to " his Emperor " through the French consul in Beirut . According to Finn , Aqil was under special " French consideration " . 
