BENGAZI. 
289 
with a view of the “ dark blue main,” and the grated windows of 
their apartments command at the same time a view of the entrance 
to the harbour. 
The cool sea-breeze enters freely, and the ladies may sit with the 
lattice spread open to enjoy it, without incurring the danger of 
meeting the gaze of any vulgar or sacrilegious eye. The dashing of 
the waters against the base of the castle may also serve to lull them to 
sleep ; but candour, at the same time, obliges us to state, that it may 
also serve to waken them rather too abruptly on no very distant 
occasion. AVere it not that the lower part of the structure is (as 
we have before mentioned) ancient, and consequently strongly built, 
the interruption to which we allude would have happened long 
before now ; and Neptune, as if encouraged by the daily glances of 
so many soft dark eyes, would have washed away the barrier which 
so cruelly interposed itself, and carried off the lovely inhabitants of 
the harem to enliven his submarine soh'e'es. 
Besides the harem of the Bey, the castle contains the officers and 
chaouses of his household, and a numerous body of troops might be 
lodged within the limits of its walls. In time of trouble, it is the 
only place to which he could retreat with any safety, and it forms 
the only ornament and the only protection which the town of Ben- 
gazi possesses. 
The Bey, whose name is Hahl, was once fortunate enough to pos- 
sess a daughter of the Bashaw as his wife, a circumstance which 
secured for him a good deal of influence (or at least a great portion 
of the royal favour) during the life of hfs consort. He was not, how- 
