70 
MR- LUCAS'S 
was compofed of 600 horfe and 10,000 foot, and was com- 
manded by a powerful Cliief of the name of Selfe Bennazar. 
- It was alfo faid, tliat the TrlLes of the friendly Arabs, who 
formed the principal part of the Tripoline army, were too clofely 
connected, by intermarriages and the force of antient alliance, 
with many of the Rebel Clans, to bring with them to the battle 
that fort of ^eal which Government could fafely trufi:. 
Feb. I oth. Such was the fituatlon of affairs when the Shereef 
Fouwad requefted from the Governor, to whom he was flrongly 
recommended by the Minifter, a public and formal declaration, 
that if the hoftile Arabs would fend to Mefurata 120 camels, 
with their drivers, for the conveyance of the merchandize of the 
Shereefs to Fezzan, both they and their cattle Ihould be perfectly 
fecure. The Governor replied, that by his own authority alone 
he could not, with either prudence or effed, announce to the 
Rebel Arabs fuch a ftipulation ; but that he would fummon a 
Council of the Chiefs of the town, and would propofe the bufi- 
nefs to them ; though he himfelf was perfuaded, that Ihould they 
confent to the Shereefs requilition, as he hoped they would, the 
Rebel Arabs were much too cautious to rely on the good faith 
of fuch an engagement. 
Feb. 
