98 
JOURNEY FROM 
here perceived that the fashions of Tripoly had travelled eastward 
for green tea was served up with the sherbet instead of coffee, very 
sweet, and very highly perfumed. On taking our leave, we were 
again assured by the Shekh that he would send us the camels 
very shortly ; but although we had every reason to be satisfied with 
Belcdzi, so far as professions and civilities extended, we had already 
seen enough of the Mahometan character to know that his promises 
should not be depended upon. 
We had scarcely been a day at Mesurata before the report of our 
having a tibeeb (or doctor) in our party soon brought us a multitude 
of visiters ; and the demand for medicine became so extensive, that 
the contents of twenty medicine-chests, such as that which we had 
with us, would not have satisfied one-half of the applicants. By far 
the greater number of those who presented themselves had nothing 
whatever the matter with them; but there were still many cases of 
real distress which required and obtained assistance. The most pre- 
valent diseases were those of the eye, and there were many very 
alarming cases of dysentery ; but Mr. Campbell s attention and 
medical skill soon began to produce very favourable symptoms, and 
as much of the medicine as could possibly be spared was adminis- 
tered to and distributed amongst those who required it. As is 
usual, however, in barbarous countries, there were many simple beings 
whom it was impossible to convince that the powers of medicine are 
hmited, and they were so fuUy persuaded of Mr. Campbell’s omni- 
potence, that he soon found it useless to deny it. To meet this 
emergency he found it better to make up some little harmless ingre- 
