TRIPOLY TO BENGAZI. 
201 
felt from being contrasted with the sultry heat of the day, occasioned 
by a parching southerly wind. 
After consuming with excellent appetites whatever they could 
procure from our tents, they would lay themselves down in a circle 
round the fire, with their feet as close to it as they could bear, and 
sleep very soundly without any other covering than their bernusse, till 
the next hour appointed for the performance of their customary devo- 
tions. They were not the least discouraged by the length of the 
journey before them, or the difficulties and privations which they 
would necessarily have to encounter ; but we uniformely found them 
contented and cheerful, always offering their assistance, unasked for, 
to our people, whenever it seemed to be necessary. Some of them 
continued with us as far as Bengazi, and appeared to be very 
grateful for the few piastres which we gave them there, to assist in 
supporting them on the road to the Holy City. 
We found a few Arabs who possessed some sheep and goats in the 
neighbourhood of Mahiriga ; but we could not prevail upon them 
to part with a single animal from their flocks, although they knew 
we were wholly without meat, and would themselves have been 
deUghted to obtain the money which they would have had in ex- 
change for it. We could not at the time account for this obstinate 
refusal ; but circumstances soon after convinced us that it was owing 
to the intrigues of the Dhbbah. 
We continued to travel after leaving Mahiriga over a country 
equally barren and uninteresting with that to the westward of it, 
and arrived at night at Linoof. 
