TRIPOLY TO BENGAZl. 
181 
woe be to the rascals upon their backs !” We had been trying 
very hard, during this important communication, to keep as solemn 
a face as we could, but the concluding bravado of old Shekh Mahom- 
med rendered all our best efforts unavailing ; and we fairly laughed 
out, in spite of ourselves, to the great discomposure of our valiant 
protector. The old Shekh had often talked of similar interruptions 
which were to be expected upon the road, but we could not, at first, 
upon the present occasion, perceive his actual motive for introducing 
the subject so formally and circumstantially. The next day, however, 
we found there had been a competition betw een the Dubbah and our 
Mesurata camel-drivers, who were desirous of accompanying us to Ben- 
gazi, and whom for their good conduct on most occasions we should 
have been very willing to retain in our service. At any rate, we 
wished the competition to continue till we had concluded our bargain 
with one of the parties, as we knew that we should otherwise be ex- 
posed to the extortion which is almost invariablj^ practised by an Arab 
when he knows there is no alternative but to accept his proposals. 
Both parties, however, knew that we must, under any circumstances, 
continue our route ; and that it would not be possible for us to do 
so without camels, whether we advanced or returned. For this reason 
we had never made any positive promise that w^e would take the 
Dhbbah’s camels at Boosaida, and we had never given any notice to 
the camel-drivers of iVIesurata that we should not continue them if 
they wished to proceed with us farther. 
Having reason to believe that his Mesurata rivals were willing to 
go on with us to Bengazi, Shekh Mahommed now brought forward 
