PREFACE. 
vii 
situdes and dangers, the physical aspect of that 
wonderful region, and the manners of the various 
tribes that inhabit it, will, in the present volume, 
be found to be fully described — not, it is true, 
with much attempt at literary ornament, but in 
the vivid though simple language in which a 
man sets down impressions which he has just 
received. I have endeavoured to remove all the 
faults which may be supposed to have arisen 
from haste or carelessness, and have necessarily 
re- written several passages, and passed a correct- 
ing pen over the whole manuscript. But I think 
I may say with confidence, that there is no obser- 
vation or statement in the following pages which 
cannot be justified by a reference to the original 
journals and scattered memoranda. 
To me this simple record of daily occur- 
rences seems highly interesting. It divides 
itself, naturally, into a succession of parts of 
unequal importance. First comes an account 
of the journey to Mourzuk, the capital of Fezzan, 
containing the traverse of the frightful Hamad ah 
or plateau which separates that province from 
the regency of Tripoli. Then we have a resi- 
dence at Mourzuk itself, Mr. Richardson being 
obliged to wait the arrival from Ghiit of an 
