BENGAZI. 303 they seem to think matters of course, has so blunted their kinder feelings in the discharge of this particular duty, that one might almost blush (on witnessing their conduct) at being classed in the same species with them *. The horrors of slave-ships are happily for the most part abolished, through the humanity and the influence of Englishmen ; and if the government of Malta were acquainted with the horrors of bullock-vessels, they would surely take means to prevent the recurrence of them. Eet us hope that some Martin may arise in the Mediterranean who will exert himself in bringing this about ; we will answer for it, he will never sit down to a piece of beef without feehngs of more than usual satisfaction.

Among the persons to whom we were introduced by Shekh Mahommed, there were several whose good sense and good feeling would have done credit to a more civilized people ; and the time which we spent in their society was often very agreeably passed.

They were able to afford us a good deal of information respecting the country to the eastward, and in the interior, which we afterwards found very useful ; but they were generally shy in giving an opinion upon affairs of a political nature. They would, however, talk freely of the exploits of Mahommed Bey, who was so instrumental in reducing the country to its present state of tranquillity; and whose sanguinary measures alone procured for Bengazi the security which it * It was curious to observe the singular mixture of feeling displayed by some of the crew of our vessel — after deliberately inflicting the most cruel treatment on some unfortunate, groaning animal, we often heard a man exclaim, when he had finished his task, “ Poverino ! so ben che tu patisci !” and he would then hurry on to inflict the same cruelties on some other wi'etched object of his care.