A RIDE TO MAGNESIA. 99 



may draw him from his seat and lead him to any effort 

 of inquiry ? When, then, I saw these people flocking 

 together on their jetty to meet us, I at once recognised 

 them as mongrel and degenerated. They were queer 

 fc>llows in their way too, quite worthy of observation. 

 The whole community are piratical ; the youth prac- 

 tically, the seniors "by counsel They manage their 

 evil deeds with a singleness of purpose that neglects 

 no feasible opportunity, and with a caution that 

 restrains from doubtful attempts, and almost secures 

 them from capture. They are not like the pirates 

 of the nautical novels, who embark in a seagoing ship, 

 and stand by to fight it out with any cruisers they 

 may meet. Like cautious sportsmen, they mark down 

 their prey first, and do not waste powder and shot. 

 In a breeze there is no danger on their coast. But 

 woe betideth the trabaccalo or short-handed merchant- 

 man that may happen to be becalmed in their sight. 

 Incontinent they launch their boats, terrible ves- 

 sels that hold twenty or thirty armed men besides 

 the rowers, and cleave their irresistible course to- 

 wards the motionless and defenceless victim. On 

 such occasions it is only by rare hap that any in- 

 dividual survives to tell the tale and cry for ven- 

 geance. And how shall this cry be satisfied ? The 

 bloody work is no sooner over than its traces are 

 obliterated and the community restored to the ap- 

 pearance of inoffensiveness : the boats are pulled up 

 on shore, the crews dispersed. Should an avenger 



