foîili had -fulfilled the injunctions of the Bashaw 5 and to enumerate a
few of the impositions, the unnecessary delays, and privations, to which
which we had in consequence been subjected ; acquainting him at
the same with the loss of property which we had sustained, from the
thievish disposition of the Dfibbah’s people. We-hoped by this
complaint to get back a pocket compass, and some other articles
which we could ill spare, which had been stolen from our tents on
the journey across the -Syrtis. Bey Halil was, however, either unwilling
or unable to assist us in the matter ; and after shrugging up his
shoulders in dignified silence (as if he had expected nothing less),
he summed up the whole of his displeasure in the single CTcla'matinn
of—Arab ! By which he seemed to imply, that, as one of that race,
the Shekh could not be other than a rogue *.
Unsatisfactory as this administration of justice may appear, it did
not séem probable that we should obtain any other ; and having one
means of punishment, at least, in our own hands (that of mulcting
the Shekh, whom we had not fully paid, to the amount of the property
stolen), we did not press the subject any further with his
excellency ; and after having made known to him our intention of
remaining during the rainy season in Bengazi, and of proceeding after-
* As the Dubbah had sworn that neither himself nor his people knew anything of
the articles which we had lost, we never got them back again; although one of his
own party afterwards confessed that they had stolen all that was missing. Shekh Ma-
hommed did not hesitate to take a false oath—but he had too great a value for what
he thought his character, to .confess that he had deliberately perjured himself. At
Malta we heard that a heavy fine of sheep and camels had been levied upon him' by
the Bashaw, for his disgraceful behaviour and wilful disobedience of his Highness’s
most positive orders.
wards to the eastward, we concluded by requesting his assistance
and protection, in furtherance of the remaining objects of the mis-
sion, and took our leave under the most decided and friendly assurances
of having everything arranged as we could wish.
| As soon as this visit of ceremony was over, we began to employ our
time, which, on account of the heavy rains, was necessarily passed in
doors, in putting together the materials which we had collected on our
route, in making some arrangements for improving the condition of
our horses, of which they stood much in need, and in preparing provisions
and other necessaries which were required for our journey to
the eastward. In these pursuits we were materially assisted by the
vice-consul and his brother, Mr. Giacomo Bossoni, to both of whom our
thanks are particularly due, as well on these as on many other occasions.
Our time, though we passed it as agreeably as we could, nevertheless
often hung very heavy on our hands; and we soon found that
Bengazi was a residence which we should quit with very little regret.
There is not a single place of public resort or amusement in any part
of this gloomy abode ; its inhabitants idle or sleep away the greater
part of their time, without appearing to entertain the slightest desire
of improving their comfortless and miserable condition, or of enlivening
the monotony of their pursuits. Turkish towns are not in general
remarkable for gaiety, and we did not expect to find theatres or
assembly-rooms; but there is usually a good deal of amusement to be
derived from occasional visits to the coffee-shops and bazaars, and not
unfrequently some useful information. These resources, however,
were not afforded us at Bengazi ; for there is nothing of the kind there
2 Q