144« OFFER OF A COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT.

truth in their words and actions. — On our return to Delemy's castle, in Shtuka, the Prince asked me, what observations I had made respecting Tomie ; I told his Royal Highness that it was an open roadstead, and not a convenient place for ships to lie. The Prince appeared pleased at this report ; but Delemj had rendered to Muley Abdsalam so many essential services, that the latter could not, in courtesy, refuse him any thing. When Delemy found that my report to the Prince did not realise his expectations, offers were made to me, supported by every possible encouragement, to form a commercial establishment at Tomie, which, as was observed, being advantageously situated for trade, being in the neighbourhood of the gum, almond, and oil countries, would offer advantages to the merchants which they could not expect at Santa Cruz, or Mogodor. Accordingly, 1 was urged to send to Europe for ships, with assurances that the duty on all imports, as well as exports, should be only two per cent, ad valorem. A house was offered to be built for me, according to any plan I might choose to suggest, free of expence. The people were desirous of having a commercial establishment in their country, and would have done any thing to accomplish this object. The extensive connections which I had throughout Suse, Sahara, and even at Timbuctoo, would have facilitated my operations \ but my connections in England were not such as to enable me to engage advantageously in this enterprise, I was obliged, therefore, though