CHAP. IX. 
RETURN TO EUROPE. 
349 
daily in the town and gardens. On my arrival, I made an attempt 
to obtain an interview with the Bashaw, but his highness was not 
at first sufficiently disengaged to allow of my paying my respects to 
him. At the end of a fortnight, however, I was admitted to an 
audience, and was accompanied by the British consul ; who jointly 
with myself, thanked him for the attention which had been shown 
to the Mission, by the people of the interior, in consequence of his 
patronage. 
The Bashaw was much amused by my having acquired the 
language and accent of Fezzan, and conversed with me for some 
time, asking me a variety of questions respecting what had occurred 
to me on my journey. He promised, that on the event of my re- 
turning to Africa, I should always be secure of his friendship : and 
on my taking leave of him, desired I would offer his compliments 
to my Sovereign. 
It would be useless and uninteresting were I to relate the 
trifling incidents which occurred to me during the remainder of 
my stay at Tripoli. I shall therefore merely mention, that on the 
14th of May I procured a passage to Leghorn for Belford and 
myself, taking with me my horse, which was a gift from the Bashaw, 
and a IMaherry, or courier camel, which I intended to present to 
his Majesty George IV. 
Dr. Dickson was unwilling to allow of Belford's undertaking 
the voyage, fearing that his weakness would not enable him to 
resist any severe weather; but as Belford thought himself equal 
to the attempt, and as we were naturally impatient to return to 
England, I resolved no longer to delay my departure. I cannot 
omit the opportunity here offered me of expressing my sense of 
the kindness invariably shown me by Col. Warrington, the British 
Consul; from whom, as well as from his family, 1 received the 
most unremitting attention. I can only sincerely lament my total 
