MERGE TO GYRENE. 571 which Boo-Bukra had conducted us on our former journey. We had observed, that in addition to his musket and pistols, the usual arms of an Arab, he always carried a short carbine slung over his shoulder, which he never took off on any occasion ; but were not at all aware of the difficulty of his situation, till we heard of the fact just mentioned.

The change of route made a difference of two days to us, as nearly as we can recollect ; but we do not regret the circumstance, since it enabled us to see a part of the country which we should not otherwise have had an opportunity of visiting. From Margad we proceeded to Bograta by the road which we had formerly taken, and from thence to Merge, where we found Bey Halil, for he had not been able to collect all his tribute. From Merge we descended to Ptolemeta, and joined Captain Beechey, who had arrived there the day before from Teuchira, having left Mr. Coffin at Bengazi, to make the necessary arrangements for our embarkation. We had arranged this meeting in order to complete the plans of both these places, which had been left somewhat unfinished in our eagerness to visit Cyrene. Three days were spent at Ptolemeta, and we then continued our journey to Teuchira, where we had no occasion to remain more than a single day, after which we proceeded to Bengazi *.

On the 25th of July we had completed all our arrangements, and embarked the same afternoon for Malta.

* We have not been able to publish on this occasion (as we believe we have already stated) more than a limited number of plates ; so that several to which we have referred have been unavoidably omitted. Some of the drawings, however, will appear in another publication, with others made in Egypt and Nubia ; and in that we shall hope to find means of introducing the greater part of what has been omitted.