BENGAZl. 283 might be considered as the best in the town, the condition of other parts of Bengazi, during the rains, may be in some measure imagined; although it will scarcely be possible for the inhabitants of civilized countries, unacquainted with the nature of Arab towns, to conceive half the wretchedness and the utter want of comfort which they present on similar occasions.

The houses of Bengazi are built after the usual manner of Arab buildings, that is to say, with rough and unequally-shaped stones, put together with mud instead of mortar ; they generally consist of a ground floor only, built round a square court-yard, which is exposed to the weather, and into which the doors of the chambers open, which seldom communicate with each other : the court is not paved, and in houses of more than ordinary consequence, there is sometimes a well in the centre. The roofs are flat, and are formed of rafters (chiefly of young pine-trees from the neighbouring forests) over which are laid mats, and on these there is generally a quantity of sea- weed, or other vegetable rubbish ; over the whole is spread a thick stratum of mud, which is beat down as hard as Arab laziness w'ill admit of at the time when the terrace is made*.

They who can afford it (and there are very few so fortunate) spread a preparation of lime over the mud ; which, as the cement is usually well made, forms a surface impervious to the weather, while the coating remains in good condition.

The rain wdiich fells is in these cases highly beneficial, since it is * On these terraces barley and grass are frequently seen growing, and goats feeding very contentedly.

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