I had taken care, immediately on my arrival at Tripoli, to write to Mr.
Gagliuffi, the British Consul at Mourzuk, announcing my approach and
enclosing a despatch from the Foreign Office. Moreover I had requested
this gentleman at once to send to Ghat for an escort of Tuaricks, so
that we might not be unnecessarily detained in Fezzan; and to suggest
that the Sheikhs should be assembled by the time we arrived, that the
treaty I had to propose to them might be discussed. My former visit to
this place will in some respects pave the way. Throughout the Turkish
provinces of Tripoli and Fezzan a circular letter given to us by Izhet
Pasha, and the letters of the Bey of Tunis in other quarters, will no
doubt prove of some assistance, although such documents must lose much
of their influence in the very secluded districts through which we shall
be compelled to pass. After all, we must trust principally to our own
tact, to the good will of the natives, and to that vague respect of
English power which is beginning to spread in the Sahara.
The composition of our caravan will of course fluctuate throughout the
whole line of route; but I may as well mention the most important
personages who were to start with me from Tripoli. Setting aside my
colleagues, Barth and Overweg, there was, in the first place, the
interpreter, Yusuf Moknee, a man really of some importance among his
people, but considering himself with far too extravagant a degree of
respect.
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