played down the suffering of Bermudian slaves.

Tourism officials will print a new version, costing taxpayers an estimated five-figure sum.

About 30,000 copies of the brochure, already printed, will be withdrawn. The Government decision came hours after The Royal Gazette revealed the brochure's contents.

The booklet was aimed at tourists interested in Bermuda's heritage. In a section on black history, it said the Island's system of slavery was "relatively benign''.

Benign, says the Oxford dictionary, means gracious or gentle. The description outraged some historians, who said Bermudian slavery was as cruel as it was anywhere else. Other experts agreed with the brochure.

But yesterday acting Tourism Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons and Human Affairs Minister the Hon. Jerome Dill said it could clash with Government moves towards racial harmony.

"We fully understand why people would find the remark offensive,'' they said in a joint statement.

"It seems to us that whether slaves were treated well or badly in Bermuda is beside the point. Slavery is and always was dehumanising.

"Today, Bermuda's efforts to deal with the lingering social and racial problems generated by segregation will be easier if we look squarely at the historical fact of slavery.'' The new Human Affairs department was trying to "develop positive relationships'' among Bermudians.

"To detract from the debilitating character of slavery will be an impediment to this task.

"The purpose of this booklet is to sell Bermuda as a destination that has a strong heritage to offer.

"If the sentence is left as it is, it may be distracting.

"This is a mistake in a document designed to assist our tourism effort -- we do not want to make some people more interested in debating the possibility of `benign' slavery than in debating whether to come here.'' Earlier this week, Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge said he did not want to get involved in a row over the brochure.

"If we dwell on these subjects we create ongoing controversy,'' he said.

"I'm trying to give tourism a positive direction and I think that's what this brochure is doing.'' Yesterday the Ministers said they had spoken to Mr. Woolridge, who was in Germany, and he had agreed with them.

"He concurs, feeling the sentence was an unfortunate oversight.'' The brochure was written by local advertising writer Mr. Edward Bottone, known as the "Curious Cook''.

TOURISM TOU