mptuary changes such as
these affect especially those who mix with the world, and are near
court. Who can believe in the ill-looking fellow with smooth face,
regular built boots, and tight frock coat, buttoned up to the chin,--to
say nothing of the wretched red cap he wears instead of a turban! That a
Turk! pshaw!

When I landed at that nest of pirates, Valona,--what time we bore a
message to the respectable inhabitants, that unless they took a little
more pains to grow honest, we should be under certain painful
necessities with respect to them,--was I to look upon that wretched
rabble as Turks? Men dressed in every variety of shabby frock coat and
trousers; and, above all, men who were undisguised in the exhibition of
vulgar curiosity. What amount of excitement would it take to make a
genuine Turk open the eyes of astonishment? or, should he even be
betrayed into an unguarded Mashhallah! has the power of morbid
attraction been discovered which may draw him from his seat and lead him
to any effort of inquiry? When, then, I saw these people flocking
together on their jetty to meet us, I at once recognised them as mongrel
and degenerated. They were queer fellows in their way, too, quite worthy
of observation. The whole community are piratical: the youth
practically, the seniors by counsel. They manage their evil deeds with a
singleness of purpose that neglects no feasible opportunity; and with a
caution that restrains from doubtful attempts, and almost secures them
from capture. They are not like the pirates of the nautical novels, who
embark in a sea-going ship, and stand by to fight it out with any
cruisers they may meet. Like cautious sportsmen, they mark down their
prey first, and do not waste powder and shot. In a breeze there is no
danger on their coast. But wo betideth the trabaccalo or short-handed
merchantman that may happen to be becalmed in their sight. Incontinent
they launch their boats,--terrible vessels that hold twenty or thirty
armed men besides the rowers, and cleave their irresistible course
towards the motionless and defenceless victim. On such occasions it is
only by rare hap that any individual survives to tell the tale and cry
for vengeance. And how shall this cry be satisfied? The bloody work is
no sooner over than its traces are obliterated and the community
restored to the appearance of inoffensiveness: the boats are pulled up
on shore, the crews dispersed. Should an avenger arrive on the spot, h