184 
JOURNEY FROM 
not have been able to get away without twice as many camels as we 
had any occasion for. 
We were, however, determined not to submit to this imposition 
while any means remained of avoiding it ; and Shekh Mahommed 
had no sooner left the tent than we ordered two horses to be saddled 
immediately, and despatched one of our party, accompanied by the 
Chaous, to bring back the Mesurata camel-drivers, who we knew 
could not have been far advanced on their journey. The old Shekh 
now imagined that we were going to send express to Tripoly to 
complain of his conduct to the Bashaw ; although such an embassy, 
had we waited for the reply, must have detained us much longer 
than it would have been advisable to delay the expedition for 
any point so comparatively trifling. As he had however fallen 
into this error, and was evidently much disturbed at the idea, we 
did not of course undeceive him ; and when he had most solemnly 
promised to abide by our decision on the subject in dispute, he 
begged that we would allow him to recall the two horsemen, who 
had ah-eady made some little progress : no sooner had he obtained our 
permission to do so than he mounted his mare in all speed, which he 
had contrived to have saddled in the interval, and riding after the 
envoys as fast as he could gallop, overtook them as they were nearly 
out of sight. By this time the day was half gone, and our departure 
was consequently deferred till the following one, which, as the wea- 
ther turned out, saved us a good wetting. We left Boosaida on the 
morning of the 22nd, and passing through Sharfa, stojjpcd for the 
night at Shedgane, having only made good twelve miles, in conse- 
