BENGAZI. 
311 
and encourage these diseases, than the circumstances to which they 
attribute them. 
Among the numerous instances, which we observed during our 
stay at Bengazi, illustrative of Arab character and prejudices, we 
may notice one which occurred in the skeefa (or entrance-hall) of 
our house, where a select party of the inhabitants of the town 
usually assembled themselves when the weather permitted. On 
this occasion, the women of England formed the principal subject 
of conversation, and the reports of their beauty, which had 
reached some of our visitors, appeared to have made a great im- 
pression in their favour. One of our party then produced a minia- 
ture from his pocket, which chanced to be the resemblance of a very 
pretty girl ; and he roundly asserted, as he handed it to the com- 
pany, that every woman in England was as handsome. We have 
already observed, that the subject was a very pretty girl ; and they 
who are unacquainted with the force of custom and prejudice, will 
hardly conceive that an object so pleasing could be the cause of a 
moment’s alarm. But truth obliges us to add, that the first Arab of 
our party, who was favoured with a sight of the lady in question, 
started back in dismay and confusion ; and all his worthy country- 
men who cast their eyes upon the picture, withdrew them, on the 
instant, in the greatest alarm, exhibiting the strongest symptoms of 
astonishment and shame. The fact was, that the young lady who 
had caused so much confusion, was unluckily painted in a low even- 
ing dress ; and her face was only shaded by the luxuriant auburn 
curls, which fell in ringlets over her forehead and temples. 
