24 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. I. 
mountain. His party returned to Tripoli, and war was immediately 
declared. The Bashaw caused a numerous army to be fitted out to 
quell the insurgents, who, being joined by other discontented tribes, 
prepared for a vigorous resistance. Owing to the bravery of these 
people, and the natural strength of their passes and fastnesses, the 
Bashaw's army were some weeks before they could ascend the 
mountains, and during that period many of them were killed. 
AVhen at last they succeeded in taking possession, they exercisetl 
on the poor wretches every species of cruelty, suffocating them in 
their subterraneous habitations, by throwing into them heaps of 
wood and strav*^, and then setting fire to them. Twelve camels, 
laden with heads to the amount of two thousand, were sent into 
Tripoli as a token of triumph. These mountaineers have since 
conducted themselves peaceably ; though before their defeat they 
were so much dreaded, that all communication through their country 
to the interior was cut off, and few people would venture amongst 
them. We were an hour in ascending the pass, which was the most 
difficult and dangerous I ever saw. The rocks were worn so smooth 
as to render it necessary for us to bestow constant attention on our 
horses, wdiich we were obliged to lead ; one false step w ould other- 
wise, in some places, have precipitated them down the side of the 
mountain. The camels, however, with their persevering pace, arriveti 
at the top as soon as we did. ISTear the place where we stopped 
^vas a Tower, with loopholes for musketry. This, with many 
others of the same description, was erected by the Bashaw on the 
conquest of the mountain, that his troops might be enabled to 
overawe the natives ; but as he never stations any forces there, his 
purposes wdll only operate against himself, and enable the Arabs to 
defend tlieir mountains with greater obstinacy, should they ever so 
far recover from their defeat as again to resist his unjust demands. 
