III.

CHAP. passages of Scripture, where mention is made of a custom among Oriental women of "putting the eyes in painting;" and which our English Translators of the Bible', unable to reconcile with their notions of a female toilet, have rendered "painting the face." Whether the interesting conversation to which the observance of this custom gave rise, or any other cause, prevented the Consul from informing us of an order of the Pasha, is now of no moment; but it was after the hour of eight when we left his hospitable mansion to return on board the Romulus; and Djezzar had decreed that no boat should the Long- pass the bar of the inner harbour after that hour. boat of the The crew of the long-boat were pulling stoutly

Attack

made upon

Romulus.

for the ship, when, just as we were rowing beneath the tower of the battery that guards the inner harbour, a volley of large stones came like cannon-shot upon us from above, dashed the oars from the hands of our sailors, and wounded three of them severely. It was very fortunate that none of their brains were beat out, for some of the stones weighed several pounds. The cries of our wounded men gave us the first alarm; and presently another volley drove us back with all possible speed towards

(1) 2 Kings, ix. 30. "And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it, and she painted her face, and tired her head," &c.

the shore. Not one of us who sat in the stern of the boat received any injury. Captain Culverhouse, and Mr. Loudon, Purser of the Romulus, ran for the Consul: the rest of us rushed into the ground-floor of the watch-tower whence the attack proceeded: it was a kind of guard-room. The author, being the foremost of the party, observed a man in the very act of descending from the tower into this place, evidently in some agitation. Having seized him by the collar, a struggle ensued: the other Arabs attempted to rescue him, and a general confusion prevailed, in the midst of which the Consul and Captain Culverhouse entered the place. It was some time before any order could be restored: our party were determined not to give up the culprit we had secured; but the Consul knowing him, and undertaking to be responsible for his appearance when called for, we retired, and went on board the Romulus.

The next morning, word was brought to the ship, that unless the Captain went on shore, the man would be put to death. We accompanied him to the Consul's house, and met the Pasha's interpreter; but found that the whole was a fabrication; no notice had been taken of the event, and Djezzar was yet ignorant of the circumstance. Upon this, Captain Culverhouse

CHAP.

III.

CHAP.

III.

the Pasha.

returned to his ship, and sent the author to inform the Pasha, that he should be compelled to have recourse to other measures, if the insult offered to his Majasty's flag were not properly noticed; and that he would go no more on shore until this was done. Determined, thereAppeal to fore, that Djezzar should have due information of the outrage, the author took with him the stones which were found in the long-boat, tied in a sack; one of the wounded sailors, and a midshipman, being ordered to accompany him. Signor Bertocino met them upon the shore, saying that it was the hour when Djezzar always slept; that it would be certain death to any one of his slaves who should wake him: and having earnestly entreated every one of the party not to venture to the palace, he declined acting as interpreter. The author

resolved therefore to make the matter known to
the Pasha without his aid; and ascended the
staircase of the seraglio, towards the door of the
apartment where Djezzar had always received
his guests. This he found to be shut. The
guards, mute, or whispering, began their signs
as the party advanced, telling them not to make
any noise.
The young midshipman, however,
as well as the author, began to knock at the
door, and immediately every one of the guards
fled. It was some time before any notice was

III.

taken of this summons; but at length the door СНАР. was opened by a slave, employed in driving flies from the Pasha's face during his sleep, and who always remained with him, in the outer apartment of his charem, for this purpose, during the repose he took in the day. This man, after putting his finger to his lips, pushed the author and his companions from the passage, saying, "Heida! heida, Djour! Hist! hist!" that is to say, "Begone, begone, Infidel! Hush! hush!" They then called loudly for Djezzar; and presently heard the murmuring of the old Pasha's voice in the inner apartment, somewhat milder than the growling of a bear roused from his repose, calling for his slave. As soon as he had been told the cause of the disturbance, he ordered the party to be admitted. The author presented himself foremost, with his sack of stones; and understanding enough of Arabic to comprehend Djezzar when he asked what was the matter, untied the cloth, and rolled the stones before him upon the floor; shewing him, at the same time, the seaman's broken shins and wounded shoulder. Bertocino was now loudly called for by the Pasha, and, of course, compelled to make his appearance; Djezzar making signs to the author and to the young officer to remain seated by him until his Interpreter arrived. As soon as Bertocino had

CHAP. placed himself, as usual, upon his knees, by the Pasha's side, and informed him of the cause

III.

It

of this visit, an order was given to one of the attendants, to bring the Captain of the Guard instantly into Djezzar's presence. This man came it appeared that his absence from his post the preceding evening had given occasion to the attack made upon the long-boat; some of the fanatic Arabs thinking it a fine opportunity to strike a blow at a party of Infidels. Nothing could exceed the expression of fury visible in Djezzar's countenance at this intelligence. might have been said of him, as of Nebuchadnezzar, "THE FORM OF HIS VISAGE WAS CHANGED." Drawing his dagger, he beckoned the officer, as Bertocino trembling said, "Now you will be satisfied!” "What," said the author, "is he going to do?" "To put to death that poor man," added he and scarcely were the words uttered, than the author, being more terrified than any of the party, caught hold of Djezzar's arm; the midshipman adding also his entreaties, and every one earnestly supplicating pardon for the poor victim. All that could be obtained was, permission from the Pasha to have the punishment suspended until Captain Culverhouse was informed of the circumstance, who, coming on shore, saved the man's life; but nothing could prevail upon Djezzar to grant him a free