2 • M^- LUCAS'S 
the fort of fecurity which was offered by the Governor and Coun- 
cil of Mefurata ; for independently of the doubts which the Arabs 
miglit entertain of their good faith, it v/as evident, that without 
the fanSion of the Bey, who commanded the army, their en- 
gagement, at the utmoft, could not extend beyond their own ju- 
rifdi^lion. But if the Bey himfelf would guaranty the fafety of 
the camels and their drivers, by granting them a pafs, the She- 
reef concluded that the real objeftions of the Arabs would be 
entirely removed. With this view, on the 2 7th of February, the 
Shereef and two of his countrymen fet out for the camp, which 
they reached on the fecond day, as it was not far from Mefurata ; 
but their trouble was fiuitlefs, for the Bey could not be prevaikd 
on 10 affent to their propofah 
All hopes of obtaining, before the conclufion of the war, a 
fufBcient conveyance for the goods being thus at an end, the 
Council refolved that, until peace fliould be eilabliflied, the She- 
reefs and the other Merchants of the caravan lliould be at li- 
berty to warehcmfe tlieir packages in the public ftore-rooms of 
the Governor. 
Deprived, in this manner, of all profped of arriving this year 
at Fezzan, and doubtful if the ftateof the country would eneou- 
= " ragej 
