644 Mr. J. I. S. VVhitaker on 



and not being myself able to undertake the journey, I 

 despatched Mr. Edward Dodson on the interesting mission. 



Mr. Dodson, accompanied by an assistant taxidermist, 

 Mr. Drake, left London in the early part of March 1901, 

 and after calling en route at Malta, reached Tripoli about 

 a fortnight later. Here a stay of ten days was made for 

 the purpose of purchasing the necessary transport animals, 

 and making other preparations for the journey into the 

 interior. From the outset, notwithstanding the Turkish 

 Sultanas passport, difficulties were placed in the way of the 

 travellers by the local authorities, the Vali of Tripoli, among 

 other things, refusing to allow their cartridges to be carried 

 into the country ; a fresh permit therefore had to be asked 

 for, and received, from Constantinople, authorizing the 

 introduction of ammunition. 



Finally the party, consisting of the two Englishmen, with 

 their Arab retinue, camels and horses, and a small obli- 

 gatory escort of Turkish soldiers, left Tripoli on the 1st 

 of April. 



The following is a brief outline of the inland journey : — 



Travelling first in a south-easterly direction, and crossing 

 a belt of shifting sand-dunes, almost destitute of life, the 

 caravan entered a cultivated region inhabited by nomad 

 Arabs, who were most hospitable and kind to the travellers, 

 supplying them with food, and otherwise assisting them. 

 A few birds were collected there, but the species were not 

 many, nor were the individuals numerically plentiful, 

 except as compared with those met with further south. 

 Ascending the Wed-Lipteha, where water was fairly abun- 

 dant, and crossing the Tarhuna hills, a plateau was reached, 

 covered with Haifa or Esparto grass ; in this district 

 numerous important ruins bear evidence of the extent and 

 strength of the Roman occupation. 



The aspect of the country now gradually became more 

 barren and stony, finally culminating in absolute desert at 

 Beni-Oulid, which was reached on the 8th of April. A trying 

 time was there in store for our travellers, owing to the great 

 heat caused by the parching desert Avind, the so-called 



