introduction; Xxxis 



All the province was in extreme confufion. Two tribes o£ 

 Arabs, occupying the territory to the well of the town, who* 

 in ordinary years, and in time of peace, were the fources of 

 its wealth and plenty, had, by the mifmanagement of the 

 Bey, entered into deadly quarrel. The tribe that lived mod 

 to the weftward; and which was reputed the weakefl, had 

 beat the moil numerous that was nearell the town, called 

 Welled Abid, and driven them within its walls. The in- 

 habitants of Bengazi had for a year before been la- 

 bouring under a fevere famine, and by this accident a- 

 bout four thoufand perfons, of all ages and fexes, were 

 forced in upon them, when perfectly deflitute of eve- 

 ry neceflary. Ten or twelve people were found dead 

 every night in the llreets* aud life was faid in many to be 

 fupported by food that human nature fhudders at the 

 thoughts of. Impatient to fly from thefe Thyeflean fealls,, 

 I prevailed upon the Bey to fend me out fome diflance to 

 the fouthward, among the Arabs where famine, had been,- 

 lefs felt. 



I. encompassed a ; great part of the Pentapolis, viiited the- 

 ruins of Ariinoe, and, though I was much more feebly recom- 

 mended than ufual, I happily received neither infult nor in- 

 jury. Finding nothing at Ariinoe nor Barca, I continued, 

 my journey to Ras Sem; the petrified city, concerning, 

 which fo many monilrous lies- were told by the Tripoline 

 ambaflador, Caifem Aga, at the beginning of this century, 

 and all believed in England, though they carried falfehood 

 upon the very face of them *. It was not then the age o£ 



incredulity 



* Shaw's Travels, fe&. ?i, p. 156. 



