into the business-details of the expedition--merely observing that,
among other things to which I had to attend during my stay in Mourzuk,
were, in the first place, to collect provisions and stores for a journey
that may last two years; secondly, to purchase presents for the princes
and other distinguished persons of the interior; and thirdly, to provide
against the casualties of the journey, payment of salaries, &c. All
these things I had to do on my own responsibility. Among other things, I
have purchased from Mr. Gagliuffi an Arab gun and pair of pistols,
inlaid with silver and curiously wrought, for the sum of 180 mahboubs.
This is for a present to the Sheikh of Bornou, who will expect something
pleasing to the eye as well as the boat, which he may at first, perhaps,
not appreciate at its full value.

I have already made a good many casual allusions to our plans and
arrangements; but it will be necessary here, before our departure from
the last city that acknowledges the Ottoman authority, to make a brief
statement of our position and prospects. Things that already appear
clear to me may not be so to others. During my former visit to Ghât,
when I travelled as a private individual, known as "Yakōb," I made
acquaintance with Hateetah, a Tuarick Sheikh, who had assumed the title
of Consul of the English. It is the custom in that country for every
stranger on his arrival to put himself under the protection of one of
the head men, to whom alone he makes presents, and who answers for his
safety. Mr. Gagliuffi had written to him to come with an escort to
protect our party as far as Ghât. It appears, however, that very grand
accounts had circulated in the Sahara on the magnitude and importance of
our mission; so that it was impossible for one Sheikh to monopolise us.
Hateetah, therefore, had come, accompanied by two sons of Shafou, the
nominal Sultan of all the Tuaricks of Ghât. Wataitee, the elder of the
two, is very plausible, and undertakes to accompany us as far as Aheer.