AFRICAN EXPLORERS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. Ill 
Tripoli with Mahommecl el Moukni, Bey of Fezzan, who 
is called sultan by his subjects. Protected by this 
escort, Ritchie and Lyon reached Murzuk without 
molestation, but there the former died on the 2nd of 
November, worn out by the fatigue and privations of 
the journey across the desert. Lyon, who was ill for 
some time from the same causes, recovered soon enough 
to foil the designs of the sultan, who, counting on his 
death, had already begun to take possession of his 
property, and also of Ritchie’s. The captain could not 
penetrate beyond the southern boundaries of Fezzan, 
but he had time to collect a good deal of valuable infor¬ 
mation about the chief towns of that province and the 
language of its inhabitants. To him we likewise owe 
the first authentic details of the religion, customs, lan¬ 
guage, and extraordinary costumes of the Tuarick Arabs, 
a wild tribe inhabiting the Great Sahara desert. 
Captain Lyon’s narrative also contains a good deal of 
interesting information collected by himself on Bornou, 
Wadai, and the Soudan, although he was unable to 
visit those places in person. 
The results obtained did not by any means satisfy 
the English Government, which was most eager to open 
up the riches of the interior to its merchants. Conse¬ 
quently the authorities received favourably the proposals 
made by Dr. Walter Oudney, a Scotchman, whose 
enthusiasm had been aroused by the travels of Mungo 
Park. This Dr. Oudney was a friend of Hugh Clap- 
perton, a lieutenant in the navy, three years his senior, 
who had distinguished himself in Canada and elsewhere, 
but had been thrown out of employment and reduced to 
half-pay by the peace of 1815. 
Hearing of Oudney’s scheme, Clapperton at once 
determined to join him in it, and Oudney begged the 
minister to allow him the aid of that enterprising officer, 
whose special knowledge would be of great assistance. 
Lord Bathurst made no objection, and the two friends, 
after receiving minute instructions, embarked for Tripoli, 
where they ascertained that Major Denham was to take 
command of their expedition. 
