10 JOURNEY FROM

character of his exploits soon obtained for him the appellation of

El Dubbah, or the Plysena.

At a more advanced period, when the rigorous measures of the

Bashaw seemed likely to reduce the Arab tribes to subjection, Ma-

hommed, finding it probably more to his interest, went over to His

Highness’s party ; and from his knowledge of the country, and the interest which he possessed, was enabled to render him very essen-

tial service : he was in consequence established as Shekh of Syrt, a

district of more than two hundred miles in extent. We were glad

to find that Shekh Mahommed was as eager as ourselves for an early

departure from Tripoly ; he soon began to enumerate all the various

disadvantages which were to be expected from travelling in the

rainy season over the low and swampy regions of the Syrtis ; and

drew such pictures of them as would have determined us to set

out immediately had our movements depended upon ourselves.

But the delays of the tradesmen, who furnished our supplies, and

many others, which could neither be foreseen nor prevented, retarded

the movements of the Expedition ; and it was not till the morning

of the 5th of November that we were able to set out on our journey.

It may w'ell be imagined that the attractions of Tripoly are neither

very great nor very numerous ; and our stay there had been attended

with a good deal of trouble and vexation in making the necessary

arrangements for our departure : but the friendly attentions which

w^e had invariably received from many of its principal European in-

habitants, as well as from several of its Mahometan residents, greatly

contributed to enliven the monotony of a Moorish town ; and it was