TRIPOLY TO BENGAZI. 
203 
really have been anxious about their money ; for they had seen the 
former camel-drivers punctually paid, and well pleased with the addi- 
tional gratification which their general good conduct had induced us 
to make them. But the opportunity was too tempting, and they 
could not find it in their hearts to pass it over. It is true that had 
we paid them every day, the supply of money which we had brought 
with us from Tripoly, for the expenses of the road, would not cer- 
tainly have lasted us to Bengazi; and there were no means of 
obtaining any more till our arrival at that place, where we had an 
order from the Bashaw on the Governor of the town. N either the 
camel-drivers, however, or their relation the Dfibbah, were at all 
aware of the present slenderness of our supply ; and it was not 
because they doubted our ability to pay them that they got up the 
scene which was acted at Linoof, but because they thought the 
opportunity too good to be lost, of getting what money from us they 
could. Whatever may have been their object, we were determined 
not to comply with it, and accordingly told them that although we 
should not have had the least objection to comply with their pro- 
posal, had they made it in a more proper manner, yet the insubor- 
dination and the insolence which they had displayed upon the occa- 
sion had determined us at all events to reject it. We reminded 
them also of the understanding with which they were hired at 
Boosaida, to which none of their party could plead ignorance, and 
declared that we should certainly abide by it, whatever they might 
imagine to the contrary. 
In order however to leave open a door for reconcihation, we told 
2 D 2 
