from Tripoli in sixteen days, having stopped only one day, and travelled regularly from three in the afternoon to nine next morning.  We marvelled, as in duty bound; but refrained not from making inquiries; the result of which was, that the real time was thirty-one days, only eight days less than we had occupied.  We did not scold Mustapha for his exaggeration, but might perhaps have done so without offence.  When a Turk does tell a lie, he submits to be accused of it with good-humour.

After leaving the hyperbolical Governor, we went to see Sheikh Mohammed Boro, Sakontaroua of Aghadez, who has arrived here en route from Mekka.  He was recommended to us by Hassan Pasha of Tripoli; but Mr. Gagliuffi does not think much of him.  We shall see.

14th.—­Walked in the gardens, and were pleased with their aspect.  On returning, I wrote out the different kinds of dates in this country.  We saw some Egyptian camels with a pilgrim caravan, of a dark and almost black colour.

My Fezzanee marabout, by the way, has left Mourzuk, after making me a present of some cakes and dates of dainty quality.  He has been of great use to me, and I shall remember him with pleasure.

I had to-day a conversation with a Tibboo of Tibesty.  How interesting it is to talk with the natives of those untrodden countries, to which chance may some day lead us!  He says Tibesty is ten days from Gatroun, and fourteen from Mourzuk.  It is all mountainous, except one long wady where the population is located.  There is no regular town; but all along the valley the population, which is said to be about 5000, though desert statistics are little to be credited, is scattered in groups of three or four, cultivating the ground and tending on the flocks which feed on the rich herbage, whilst goats scramble for food along the slopes of the boundary mountains.  The people dwell either in huts or in caverns scooped out of the sides of hills, some of them very extensive.  What a picture of primitive life!  Families living separate, not yet driven to hide behind walls, or congregate in masses for safety.  The desert is their bulwark.  This place lies, indeed, far east of the caravan route from Bornou.  There is no road direct eastward from Tibesty, but caravans can go south-east to Wadai.  The valley produces, besides other grain, a good quantity of ghaseb, which is the principal food of the inhabitants.  Some palms rise here and there in clumps, but are not very productive; and dates are imported from Fezzan.  The tree most frequent is the tholukh; but there is also another common tree, called the arak.  In the open country, the wadan, the gazelle, and the ostrich are found, and the people hunt them with dogs.  Good water is supplied by wells and streams, in sufficient quantities to irrigate the fields of ghaseb, wheat, and barley.  Rain is abundant some years, but fails in others; torrents are continually descending from the mountains:  one stream flows through a space of two days’