of the night were the prayers of our friend the Dúbbah, as he chaunted them at intervals in a low and drowsy tone; and the howlings of his namesakes, who prowled about the tents, occasionally mingled with the shriller cries of the jackalls.
“On the morning of the 12th, the drivers refused to load their camels; and we were told that they would not proceed any farther, unless we paid them their wages each day in advance. This we refused most decidedly, telling them that we should abide by our agreement, and expected that they would keep theirs: we added, that we were determined at all events to proceed, and that if they persisted in refusing to load the camels, we should do so without farther ceremony ourselves. They made no reply, but all walked away to a little eminence a few yards distant, where they were presently joined by the whole of our Arab escort, except the Dúbbah, and began to prime their guns very ceremoniously, charging such of them with ball as did not happen to be already loaded. We took no other notice of this manoeuvre than by having our own fire-arms in readiness, and proceeded immediately to load the camels ourselves, in which we were assisted by the Bashaw’s janissary, the Dúbbah all the while recommending us to comply with the demand of the malcontents. It here became evident how little dependence was to be placed upon Skeik Mahommed and his company, and we were glad to have discovered this circumstance so early, as it might prevent us from relying upon their co-operation in cases of greater importance. We did not much expect that the Arabs would proceed to extremities; but our party, at all events, was quite as strong as theirs, and we were determined to carry our point. When the camels were loaded, and we were about to drive them off, the warmth of our opponents had abated; for an Arab very easily makes up his mind to submission, when he finds that the chances are not greatly in his favor; and they followed us without offering further resistance, resuming by degrees their customary occupations.
“We now passed over a succession of undulating ground, covered with pasturage, among which appeared flocks of sheep and goats, and here send there an Arab tent. But the most welcome objects which this change of soil afforded, were the wells of sweet water which presented themselves at Zaffran,” (16 miles beyond Giraff). “The little port of Mersa Zaffran, in lat. 31° 12' 48", long. 16° 41' 29", is the first that occurs in passing eastward from the Cephalas Promontorium, and the remains of building which are found there, on the beach, will authorize the conclusion that it was used as such by the ancients. We may fairly consider it as that mentioned by Strabo with Aspis.”
The people who reside at Zaffran, and indeed in every other part of the Syrtis, are Bedouins; for there is not a single permanently inhabited town or village between Mesurata and Bengazi.
