246 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. VI. 
wish this morning to proceed to the well called El Wiekh, in hopes 
of there meeting the Ghrazzie ; but fearing to leave Belford for so 
long a time, I determined on riding out to the southward as far as 
the day would allow me: my object in so doing was to sec the state 
of that part of the desert, which I found the same as the one we 
had passed. I returned at night, and learnt, that at Mogreb the 
Kaid of the town had arrived from Morzouk, with two camels laden 
with clothes, oil, butter, and other articles for Aleiwa and such of 
the Sultan's immediate household as were with him ; as this man 
brought news that the army would pass Tegerry on the morrow, it 
made my proposed journey unnecessary. 
January 7th. Fine morning ; thermometer 4°. — Myself much 
better, Belford very weak. At half past eight the camel started, 
and at nine we followed ; cpite rejoiced at escaping from the salt 
water, damaged barley, and miserable people of Tegerry. At six 
we arrived at jMedroosa, wherCj even for money, I could procure no 
food, and where they totally disregarded the Sultan's order. Un- 
fortunately my character had preceded me : " He is a fool who 
actually pays for every thing, and yet has the power of taking it." 
They carried their resistance so far, that I was at last obhged to 
exercise the power given me in the Teskera ; but it was so late 
before I got the better of them, that nothing could be cooked that 
night. My custom of paying for every thing at the places we had 
passed would actually have exposed me to the risk of being nearly 
starved all the way back, had I not at last made them sensible 
of my power. 
I now began to feel much alarm respecting Belford, whom we 
had left some hours before, slowly following with the camel and its 
driver, but who did not come up with us. After having made fre- 
quent and anxious search for him, to our great rehef he arrived at 
11. 45. P. M. ; though in a most deplorable condition, having fallen 
