The Bashaw Of
Tripoli, Who Had Great Influence With The Inhabitants Of Bornou, And The
Other Great African States, Seemed Favourable To The Object, And Promised
His Protection.
Mr. Ritchie was sent out, accompanied by Lieutenant Lyon
of the navy.
In March 1819, they reached Fezzan. The sultan, who had
acquired great wealth by the slave-trade, deluded them with promises of
protection. Here they were detained by illness the whole summer. Mr.
Ritchie died on the 20th November 1819: and Mr. Lyon, after collecting a
little information concerning Fezzan, resolved to retrace his steps.
CHAPTER XXXI.
_Denham and Clapperton's Journey_.
Government resolved to send an expedition to Tripoli, across the Great
Desert, to Bornou, confiding in the friendly disposition of the Bashaw of
Tripoli, whose influence extended over a large part of Central Africa.
Major Denham, Lieutenant Clapperton of the Navy, and Dr. Oudney, a naval
surgeon, who possessed considerable knowledge of natural history, were
selected for this mission. They reached Tripoli about the middle of
November 1821, and were presented to the Bashaw, whom they found sitting
cross-legged on a carpet, surrounded by his guards; he ordered
refreshments to be brought, and afterwards invited them to attend a
hawking party.
On the 8th April 1822, they arrived at Mourzouk, and were civilly
received by the potentate of that place, who however did not shew any
great zeal in forwarding their arrangements. After various delays, Major
Denham returned to Tripoli to remonstrate with the Bashaw; and not
getting any satisfactory reply from him, set sail for England; but was
stopped at Marseilles, by a vessel sent by the Bashaw, to announce that
an agreement had been entered into with Boo Khaloom, a wealthy merchant,
who intended to travel across the Desert, and had promised to escort the
travelers.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 471 of 546
Words from 127849 to 128148
of 148366
