130 DENHAM AND CLAPPERTON. 



honourable, to replenish their stores by plunder than by pur- 

 chase. Slaves, the staple of their trade, are generally ob- 

 tained by the most atrocious violence, in expeditions called 

 ghrazzies orfclateas, undertaken solely for that guilty pur- 

 pose ; but, by engaging in such enterprises themselves, the 

 merchants enjoy the benefit, since they reckon it such, of 

 paying in blood instead of money. Provided they can es- 

 cape the dangers and casualties to which they are exposed, 

 their profits are immense, the value of merchandise being 

 somewhat more than tripled by its conveyance across the 

 Desert. Thus a few successful journeys enable a man to 

 acquire a fortune almost princely, and a high degree of in- 

 fluence in the Barbary States. In short, the merchant, the 

 warrior, the prince, the thief, are united in this extraordi- 

 nary character ; and he is prepared, according to circum- 

 stances, to act in one or in all of these capacities. Yet 

 Boo Khalloom might be reckoned a good specimen of this 

 evil race. He possessed an enlarged and liberal mind, and 

 was honourable, and even humane, so far as a slave-mer- 

 chant could retain these qualities ; he was dragged, too, 

 with reluctance into the most odious parts of his vocation, 

 — while at home his generosity was such as to make him 

 almost idolized. 



Under the guidance of this remarkable personage Major 

 Denham set forth, with almost the full assurance of reach- 

 ing those depths of Africa from which no European had 

 ever yet returned. Little occurred to diversify the usual 

 monotony of a desert route, till they arrived at Sockna, 

 where Boo Khalloom, who was fond of display, determined 

 to make his entrance with almost kingly pomp. He rode a 

 white Tunisian horse, w'ith gilded saddle and trappings of 

 scarlet cloth bordered with gold ; his dress consisted of va- 

 rious caftans and robes of the richest silks, adorned with 

 gold buttons, lace, and embroidery : the burnouse, a present 

 from the bashaw, had cost 400 dollars. The citizens meet- 

 ing the party with shouts and guns, and the females with 

 singing and dancing, formed a species of triumphal proces- 

 sion. Several days were spent at Sockna, Boo KhaUooui 

 being ill, and wishing to try the effect of various charms 

 and superstitious remedies. The English, meantLmev wit- 

 nessed a great marriage ceremony, the chief pomp of which 

 consisted in placing the bride in a basket on the back of a 



