always appearing very distant when the sun is on them; and it has often happened, that I have heen startled by seeing a man or camel rise close to me, on the top of one of the apparently distant hills. The excessive dryness of the Desert is in some places very extraordinary, particularly to the southward of the Soudah mountains, where, in going to as well as coming from Fezzan, I observed that our clothes, and the tails of our horses, emitted electric sparks. Water is not to be found by digging in all parts of the Desert; but is more particularly difficult to find in the Sereer, or gravel, which generally lies over sand stone. In two instances I have seen remains of pits which had been dug to one hundred feet without coming to water. The wells which are on the Desert are generally found in Wadeys or in the sandy country; and in all those I have seen, the water was salt and putrid, but the putrescence diminished after a quantity had been drawn. Some wells have only a sufficiency for the supply of five or six horses at once, and are a long time before they again fill. These wells which were so scantily supplied, I observed, were always in a soft clayey rock; but those which kept themselves tolerably full, were in a yellow clay. The depths vary from 6 or 8 feet to 70 or 80. In almost every part of the stony desert, small piles of stones are frequently discovered, which are erected by travellers as marks to direct them across the country, or in the event of their missing their route, to assist them again to find it. These little heaps are called Aalum Ac, or “ teachers;” and some become so remarkable, as to acquire other names, and to be favourite resting-places for Kaffles. About the beginning of April, a dangerous fever broke out and was making great ravages in Tripoli, many of the inhabitants dying daily in the town and gardens. On my arrival,. I made ah attempt to obtain an interview with the Bashaw, but his highness was not at first sufficiently disengaged to allow of my paying my respects to him. A t the end of a fortnight, however, I was admitted to an audience, and was accompanied by the British consul; who jointly with myself, thanked him for the attention which had been shown to the Mission, by the people of the interior, in consequence of his patronage. The Bashaw was much amused by my having acquired the language and accent of Fezzan, and conversed with me for some time, asking me a variety of questions respecting what had occurred to me on my journey. He promised, that on the event of my ire- turning to Africa, I should always be secure of his friendship: and on my taking leave of him, desired I would offer his compliments to my Sovereign. I t would be useless and uninteresting were I to relate the trifling incidents which occurred to me during the remainder of my stay at Tripoli. I shall therefore merely mention, that on the 14th of May I procured a passage to Leghorn for Belford and myself, taking with me my horse, which was a gift from the Bashaw, and a Maherry, or courier camel, which I intended to present to his-Majesty George IV. Dr. Dickson was unwilling to allow of Belford’s undertaking the voyage, fearing that his weakness would not enable him to resist any severe weather; hut as Belford thought himself equal to the attempt, and as we were naturally impatient to return to England, I resolved no longer to delay my departure. I cannot' omit the opportunity here offered me of expressing my sense of the kindness invariably shown me by Col. Warrington, the British Consul; from whom, as well as from his family, 1 received the most unremitting attention. I can only sincerely lament my total
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