286 
BENGAZI. 
killed there, and which may truly be said to realize the words of the 
poet in “ making the green one red.” It may readily be imagined, 
that in the heat of the summer these places are not very wholesome, 
and they are probably often the causes of fevers, especially during 
the prevalence of southerly winds. That these sinks of corruption 
should ever be bathing-places will not perhaps be so easily con- 
ceived ; but they are nevertheless often used for such purpose ; and 
the children of the town wiU very frequently adjourn from the dust- 
heaps already described, to cool themselves (we cannot in conscience 
say to clean themselves) in the green and red pools here alluded to. 
With so many objects to attract and encourage them, it is not to be 
wondered at, that Bengazi is proverbial for flies ; and every part of 
the town, both within and without the houses, may truly be said to 
swarm with them. Among the various annoyances with which the 
place abounds, these are, perhaps, the most serious of any ; or, at all 
events, they are those from which it is least possible to escape ; there 
is, in fact, no chance of avoiding them ; they follow you everywhere 
from place to place, settle on every part of the arms, legs, and body, 
which the heat of the weather obliges you to leave uncovered ; 
creep obstinately into the corners of the eyes, and up the nostrils? 
into the hollows of the ears, and the corners of the mouth when it is 
closed, and often fly down the throat, nearly choking you, when it is 
open ; at meals every part of the dishes and their contents are 
covered as soon as they are produced, and every fluid becomes a 
^ trap for as many of these insects as can crowd themselves over its 
surface. In short, there is literally no riding or walking, no reading 
