COMMUNICATIONS. 
73 
rage, or his own fituation permit tlie attempt in the Winter, 
Mr. Luc AS refolved to avail himfelf to the utmoft of fuch means 
rof information as the knowledge of his fellow-travellers enabled 
them to afford. 
He had already difcovered that the little old Shereef Imliam- 
.med had been often employed by the King of Fezzan as his 
Faftor in the Slave Trade ; and in that capacity had travelled to 
Bornou and different parts of Nigritia ; and he now determined 
to cultivate his friendfliip with double folicitude, and by occa- 
dional prefents and frec^uent converfation, to draw from him an 
account of the countries which he had feen. With this view 
lie, one evening, took from his pocket his map of Africa, and 
after fatisfying the Shereef's curiofity as to its nature and ufe, 
told him that he once intended it as a prefent to the King of 
Fezzan; but, that having difcovered in it feveral miflakes, he 
now propofed to draw another that fliould be more correct. The 
Shereef replied, that the King would be highly gratified with, 
fuch a prefent. Mr. Lucas faid, that if he would affiil: him 
with an account of the diflances from place to place, in fuch 
parts of the country as he had vifited, and with their names in 
Arabic, and would alfo fatisfy him as to fuch queftions as he 
'Should alk, he would prepare f-zvo corre(Sled copies of the map, 
L and 
