[4] "It is impossible to deny the advancement of civilization in that zone of the African continent which has formed the field of our inquiry. Yet barbarism is there supported by natural circumstances with which it is vain to think of coping. It may be doubted whether, if mankind had inhabited the earth only in populous and adjoining communities, slavery would have ever existed. The Desert, if it be not absolutely the root of the evil, has, at least, been from the earliest times the great nursery of slave hunters. The demoralization of the towns on the Southern borders of The Desert has been pointed out; and if the vast extent be considered of the region in which man has no riches but slaves, no enjoyment but slaves, no article of trade but slaves, and where the hearts of wandering thousands are closed against pity by the galling misery of life, it will be difficult to resist the conviction that the solid buttress on which slavery rests in Africa, is--The Desert." (p. 139.) [5] See MR. DUNCAN'S _Travels in Western Africa_. ILLUSTRATIONS. VOLUME I. PLATES. Portrait of the Author Map of the Desert Slave Caravan WOOD-CUTS. Arab Tents Facsimile Specimen of the Writing of a Young Taleb Manner of drawing Water from Wells Great Spring of Ghadames Bas-Relief Square of Fountains City of Ghadames Cistern of an Ancient Tower Negro's Head Ancient Ruins of Ghadames Region of Sands Rocking Rock [Illustration: A SLAVE CARAVAN. _J. E. S. del. J. W. Cook. sc._] TRAVELS IN THE GREAT DESERT. CHAPTER I. FROM TUNIS TO TRIPOLI. Project of Journey.--Opinions of People upon its practicability.--Moral character of Europeans in Barbary.--Leave the Isle of Jerbah for Tripoli in the coaster _Mesâoud_.--Return back.--Wind in Jerbah.--Start again for Tripoli.--Sâkeeah.--Zarzees.--Biban.--The _Salinæ_, or Salt-pits.--Rais-el-Makhbes.--Zouwarah.--Foul Wind, and put into the port of Tripoli Vecchia.--Quarrel of Captain with Passengers.--Description of this Port.--My fellow-travellers, and Said the runaway Slave.--Arrival at Tripoli, and Health-Office.--Colonel Warrington, British Consul-General.--The British Garden.--Interview with Mehemet Pasha.--Barbary Politics.--Aspect of Tripoli.--Old Castle of the Karamanly Bashaws.--Manœuvring of the Pasha's Troops.--The Pasha's opinion of my projected Tour.--Resistance of the Pasha to my Voyage, and overcome by the Consul.--Departure from Tripoli to Ghadames.