the streets at this moment; for even Giacomo Rossoni. (the brother
of the Consul), who was a great favorite with the Arabs, and who
chanced to b e out just before, very narrowly escaped with his life in
making his way to take refuge in our house. We had every desire
to act as conciliatory a part as possible, but finding our doors assailed
in the manner described, we armed ourselves, with the intention of
defending the house to the last, should the Arabs proceed to extremities.
At this difficult moment Shekh Mahommed and his brothers,
accompanied by some of our other Arab friends, made their
way through the mob and arrived just in time to prevent an immediate
attack upon our quarters ; and we afterwards learnt that one
of the Shekh’s brothers had been felled to the ground, for his remonstrances
in our favour, before he could reach our door. A parley
was now begun with great vehemence on both sides,; but before, any
measures could be determined upon, an alarm was excited that the
Greeks might be landing while this discussion was pending, and the
whole party of rioters hurried down to the beach, leaving none but
the women and children in the town. Muskets were now discharged
in various directions, without any person knowing what they were
firing'at, and the whole strength of the place was. drawn up on the
beach in momentary expectation of being attacked by the invaders.
At length, after a lapse of several hours, they conceived that sufficient
time had been given for the approach of the vessels, if Bengazi
had been really their object ,; and after inquiring of one another what
grounds there had been for all the disturbance they had been making,
without any one being able , to give a satisfactory answer, the
whole party retired very quietly to their houses, and nothing more
was ever heard of the formidable invasion which had excited such
alarm and confusion. In the mean time Signor Giacomo, who had
been some time in ours house, became anxious to relieve his family
from the apprehensions which they could not but have entertained
for his safety; but his European dress being likely to attract attention,
and expose him to danger or insult, we offered our services to
accompany him; and on reaching , his house in safety, he learnt that
the Consul had been obliged to shut himselfup with his family, and
that they h ad been in the greatest alarm for him. Thus ended a
panic which arose from the most, trifling circumstance, threw the
whole town into serious confusion, and threatened-the fives of all the
Christians in the place, without having, the slightest foundation.
I t was singular to observe, , during the whole of this affair, the total.
want of system and discipline which prevailed; each person hurrying
he hardly knew where, because he saw others in motion, and leaving
his home, with his family and property, at the mercy of any. one
who might invade it, A handful of men might have taken the
whole town, which was left for several hours without any defence,
and carried off their plunder beyond the reach of pursuit before the
inhabitants knew they had been there. This was the only molestation
we ever met with from the people of Bengazi; and, to do them
justice, we must allow that it proceeded rather from their ignorance
and their fears, than from any decided hostility or ill-will
towards ourselves. On all other occasions we found them civil and
obliging, and usually inclined to be of service to us when they could.
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