128 DENHAM AND CLAPPERTON. 



poll, they could not shut their eyes to the reigning barba* 

 risiUk The sheik, Belgassum Khalifa, a fine old Arab, un- 

 derstood to be high in the favour of the bashaw, had been 

 one evening at an elegant entertainment in the palace, when 

 on reaching his own door a pistol-shot wounded him in the 

 arm, and on his entering the passage a second penetrated 

 his body. He staggered into theliouse, denouncing his own 

 nephew as the author of the assassination. The murderers 

 rushed in, and completed their crime by stabbing him seven 

 times with their daggers, while his wife received two wounds 

 in endeavouring to save him. The three actors in this tra- 

 gedy instantly fled for protection to the British consulate ; 

 but ]Mr. Warrington sent notice to the bashaw, " that the 

 murderers of Khalifa would find no protection under the 

 flag of England." That chief, however, either privy to the 

 crime, or disposed to wink at its commission, expressed his 

 regret that the guilty persons had found shelter in the con- 

 sulate ; but added, that he could not think of violating such 

 a sanctuary. Repeated assurance was given that he might 

 send any force, or use any means, to drag them from be- 

 neath a banner that never was disgraced by giving protec- 

 tion to assassins. The bashaw at length, ashamed of his 

 apathy, sent sixteen stout fellows, by whom the ruffians 

 were seized ; and in less than an hour the murderers were 

 seen hanging from the castle-walls. 



The mission, fortified with recommendations to the sul- 

 tan of Fezzan, now entered upon their long and dreary pil- 

 grimage to Mourzouk, where they arrived on the 8th April, 

 1822. This prince received them with courtesy and affa- 

 bility, but gave himself very little trouble in making provi- 

 sion for the continuance of their journey. He even inti- 

 mated his intention of visiting Tripoli, and the necessity of 

 their remaining till his return. This arrangement was most 

 disheartening ; nor did they know what reliance to place in 

 the sincerity of Boo Khalloom, a great merchant, who in- 

 vited them to accompany an expedition which he was pre- 

 paring for Soudan. The sultan and he soon after departed, 

 each with large presents for the bashaw, to intrigue against 

 one another at the court of Tripoli. After this there was 

 scarcely a camel left in Fezzan, or any other means of pro- 

 secuting discovery. Major Dcnham then saw no alterna- 

 tive but that he himself should hasten back to Tripoli, and 



