DENHAM AND CLAPPERTON. 127 



tiori of any sovereign have been more efficient ; for the 

 influence of this pelty prince and the terror of his name 

 are almost unbounded in the greatest kingdoms of Central 

 Africa. One weapon, the gun, in the hands of his troops, 

 gives him all this superiority ; for the remoter nations, from 

 the Nile to the Atlantic, scarcely know any other arms be- 

 sides the spear, the bow, and the javelin. A musket among 

 those tribes is an object of almost supernatural dread ; indi- 

 viduals have been seen kneeling down before it, speaking 

 to it in whispers, and addressing to it earnest supplications. 

 With troops thus armed, the bashaw of Tripoli is esteemed 

 in Northern Africa the most potent monarch on earth ; and 

 it is a matter of surprise among the natives that he has not 

 ere now compelled all Europe to embrace the Mohammedan 

 faith. He could therefore assure the English, that for any 

 but physical obstacles, they might travel as safely from Tri- 

 poli to Boniou, as from Edinburgh to London. 



Under the confidence inspired by these circumstances, 

 government prepared another expedition, and without diffi- 

 culty procured a fresh band of adventurers, who undertook 

 to brave all its perils. Major Denham, Lieutenant Clap- 

 perton of the navy, and Dr. Oudney, a naval surgeon pos- 

 sessing a considerable knowledge of natural history, were 

 appointed to this service. Without delay they proceeded to 

 Tripoli, where they arrived on the 18th November, 1821. 

 They were immediately introduced to the bashaw, whom 

 they found sitting cross-legged on a carpet, attended by 

 armed negroes. After treating them to sherbet and coffee, 

 he invited them to a hawking party, where he appeared 

 mounted on a milk-white Arabian steed superbly capari- 

 soned, having a saddle of crimson velvet richly studded 

 with gold nails, and with embroidered trappings. He was 

 preceded by six chaoushes, or officers, in white silk robes ; 

 while two favourite negro slaves, in glittering vest, light 

 burnouse, and white turban, supported him on each side. 

 The hunt began on the borders of the Desert, where parties 

 of six or eight Arabs dashed forwards quick as lightning, 

 fired suddenly, and rushed back with loud cries. The skill 

 with which they manoeuvred their steeds, whirling the long 

 musket over their heads as they rode at fiill gallop, appeared 

 quite surprising. 



Although the English were personally well treated at Tri- 



