On the 23d I intended being off by daylight; but it was the afternoon before I could accomplish my wish. The sheikh had given me Bellal: “He will obey your orders in every thing,” said he; “but you are going amongst people with whom I have but little influence.” Bellal, who was one of the handsomest negroes I almost ever saw, and a superior person, was attended by six of his slaves, two of whom were mounted; these, with ourselves and two camels, formed our party. While I was waiting to take leave of the sheikh, a note was brought me from Dr. Oudney, by a Bornouese from Katagum: it had no date, and was indeed his last effort. The acknowledgment of being weak and helpless assured me that he was really so; for during the whole of his long sufferings a complaint had scarcely ever escaped his lips. On the sheikh’s saying to him, when he first expressed his wish to accompany the kafila, “Surely your health is not such as to risk such a journey?” he merely replied, “Why, if I stay here, I shall die, and probably sooner, as travelling always improves my health.” His letter, though short, expresses great satisfaction at the treatment he had met with on his journey, and also from the inhabitants of the country. [Illustration] FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 34: The most beautiful Jewess in Tripoli is called Mesrouda-eyum el Oubara (Mesrouda, with the eye of the Oubara).] [Footnote 35: The anniversary of Abraham’s offering up Isaac, or the meeting of Pilgrims at Mecca.] [Footnote 36: Strips of cotton, so many fathoms of which go to a dollar.] [Footnote 37: Abyssinian hornbill.] [Footnote 38: In Tripoli, the father or mother is generally the executioner, to avenge the sin, and at the same time wipe the stain from the family, and prevent public execution.] [Footnote 39: Marry her.] [Footnote 40: The horn of one of these animals measured two feet, six inches, and three-quarters, in circumference.] [Footnote 41: On these occasions the sheikh merely moves his finger, which is the signal for immediate execution.] [Footnote 42: Black Mameluke.] [Footnote 43: A religious mendicant: the name is nearly the Arabic for poverty.] [Footnote 44: Soon after this, I made an offer to two Arabs, both of whom had formerly been at Waday, that I would give them each two hundred dollars, if they would accompany me: this is a sum for which an Arab will almost do any thing; but they refused, saying “No! no! what is money without life? the Waday people will kill us all.”] [Footnote 45: Governor of the palace.] [Footnote 46: A town near Mesurata.] CHAPTER VI. EXCURSION TO LOGGUN, AND DEATH OF MR. TOOLE.