THE BOAT — DELAYS. 
5 
couple of powerful camels. This boat was expressly 
intended for the navigation of Lake Tchad.* 
It was universally admired at Tripoli; and, as it 
will be useless to bring it back, will form a most 
acceptable present for the Sultan of Bornou. I 
cannot omit to notice, in passing, the courtesy and 
attention of the authorities of Malta with whom I 
have been in communication ; they have all done 
their best to forward the objects of the Mission. 
A good deal of the delay that took place at 
Tripoli arose from causes over which it was impos- 
sible to exert any control, and principally from the 
bad weather, which cut off all communication with 
Malta. We used to go about relating the anecdote 
of Charles Y. illustrative of the inhospitable seasons 
of this coast. "Which are the best ports of Bar- 
bary?" inquired the Emperor of the famous Admiral 
Dorea. " The months of June, July, and August," 
was the reply. 
W^hilst waiting for the winds to waft us so many 
desirable things, we actively engaged in hiring 
camels, procuring servants, and otherwise making 
ready for a start. The details of all these prepara- 
tions, which cost me prodigious anxiety, as I was 
obliged to study at the same time efficiency and 
economy, are described in a voluminous mass of cor- 
respondence ; but I should not think of presenting 
* It has since been launched under the British flag, and has proved 
useful in the examination of the shores of the great lake of Central 
Africa.— Editor. 
