When Major Laing reached Ghadamis, he discovered that his companion, the Sheik Babani, was governor of the town. He considered him a person of sterling worth, with a quiet, inoffensive, unobtrusive character, though at the same time not deficient in decision, but never once suspected him to be a person of so much importance and influence as he all at once discovered him to be. The Sheik immediately lodged him in one of his own houses, with a large garden, and yard for his camels, which were fed at the expense of the governor. Ghadamis is a place of considerable trade; all the koffilas to and from Soudan passing through it. The citizens pay tribute to the Tuaric who inhabit the great Sahara or desert on the western side of Africa for permission to their koffilas to pass without being subjected to plunder. The town contains six or seven thousand inhabitants. Major Laing left Ghadamis on the 27th of October, and arrived at Ensala on the 3d of December. Ensala is the most eastern town in the province of Tuat, and belongs to the Tuaric: it is considered to be thirty-five days journey distant from Timbuctoo. As he approached this city, some thousands of people, of all ages, came out to meet this Christian traveller. Nothing could exceed the kindness and hospitality with which they received him, and Major Laing returned it, by patiently listening to their complaints, and administering medicine to their diseases to the best of his ability. The koffila left Ensala on the 10th of January 1826, and on the 26th of the same month entered upon the desert of Tenezarof, about twenty journies from Timbuctoo, a mere desert of sand, perfectly flat, and quite destitute of all verdure. Major Laing, at this time was still an enthusiast in his expedition, and, possessed of good health and spirits, experiencing everywhere, from every person, nothing but good will, kindness, and hospitality. He particularly mentions the services of Hatteta, the Tuaric who had accompanied him thither; he also speaks of the sheik Babani, who, he says, continued “to watch over him with the solicitude of a father.” Shortly after the arrival of a letter with these accounts from Tenezarof, reports reached Tripoli, that the koffila had been attacked by robbers; that the Major’s servant, as well as some others, had been killed, and he himself wounded; at the same time adding, that he had effected his escape to the Marabout Mooktar, who usually resided at a spot only five days journey distant from Timbuctoo. These reports, though they created some uneasiness, were not believed, till a letter was received at Tripoli by Mrs. Laing, indirectly tending to confirm them. She received it on the 20th of September 1826: it was written from the desert of Tenezarof. The following extract is what appears to refer to the circumstances which raised the reports.