arrival in Tripoli; and it would not do, after keeping my friends in the
oasis in a turmoil all this while, to disappoint them. The desert has
its etiquette as well as the drawing-room, and infringements might be
rather more dangerous here.

The new acting Pasha has made the Tuaricks a present of some burnouses.
This, whilst lessening perhaps the comparative value of what we have
given, at any rate lays the chief under some obligations to the Turks,
and assists in making up a good round sum in payment for the trouble of
coming all the way from Ghât to Mourzuk to escort us.

By the way, Mr. Boro of Aghadez has been fetched back from his
encampment at Tesaoua by a man on horseback. The business was of some
consequence, according to the notions of these people. He had sold a
female slave, and the poor woman was now found to be _enceinte_ by
Boro's son, with whom she had been living as concubine. The law soon
despatched the affair, and compelled the Sheikh to restore the
purchase-money and take back his slave.

A last observation on Mourzuk, before leaving it behind in this Saharan
navigation. All the Ottoman authorities have treated us with attention
and respect. Mr. Gagliuffi has been hospitable, and the people generally
have proved courteous in their behaviour. It is rare to remain so long
in a place and have so few causes of complaint. Justice, however,
compels me to say, that the British Consul sometimes remembered too
vividly that he was also a merchant, and a Levantine merchant to boot. I
am afraid he is not quite satisfied even with the profits he has already
made out of the expedition. Is it possible, however, for Easterns, or
people who live in the East, to look upon a Government as anything but a
milch cow? Mustapha Bey, who took a very affectionate leave of me, is