COMMUNICATIONS. 
75 
mal, the women miftook him for one of the Rebels, and con- 
ceiving that many more were concealed, (for they often come 
down from the mountains to Ileal the cattle) had given the ufual 
alarm. 
In a few minutes, Mr. Lucas and the old Shereef, who had 
both continued on the hill, obferved the Fezzaners coming 
fulkily back, and curfmg the women for fo foolifli a diflurbance, 
whilft the townfmen, on the contrary, fired their pieces, and re- 
joiced in their difappointmeiit as much as if they had conquered 
an army. 
A few days afterwards, a fecond alarm was given, and with 
much more reafon than the firft ; for a party of the Rebel Arabs, 
fome on horfeback, and others on foot, had fuddenly appeared 
within two miles of the town, and after killing two herdfmen, and 
feizing three Black flaves, their affiftants, had carrried off fixty 
goats, fourteen cows, and three camels. 
The attack was made at a time when mofl of the townfmen 
were at the market, which is held at the diflance of three miles 
from Mefurata ; and to add to their indignation, it was made in 
a place which hitherto had been deemed inviolable ; for the land 
L 2 on 
