The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-29
TRIPOLI.

PIlately representing tHe NAUTICAL party ii
Consul in Negroland, reminds US that Tri
poll was one of the pirates nests to which
the gallant Decatur paid rather unwelcom'
visit in 1916. The Algerines, Tunisians and
Tripolitans were allowed in those days b.
the great European powers to capture thei
ships and to make slaves of their subjects
many Of these governments even meanly con
senting to pay tribute to these sea wolves in
order to purchase their forbearance. The
United States government Of that time could
not "see il" in that light and squad
ron was sent over under the com
mand of Commodore Decatur to demand
flag, and injuries to our commerce. In June
1915. Decatur captured an Algerine after 6
short and sharp engagement which lasted bu
twenty-five minutes, and in which the famous
Admiral Rails Hammida, who for long time
was the terror of the Mediterranean Sea- was
sent to much hotter place than Algiers. He
then paid his respects to the last named place,
and knocked the conceit out of the Dey, who
made ample apology for past offenses, and
promised to behave better in the future, SO
far as the stars and stripes were concerned.
He then went before Tunis, where he obtained
indemnity for the outrages committed or per-
mitted by the ruling powers, and finally
brought his guns in rather uncomfortable
proximity to the ramparts of Tripoli, whose
Bey or Governor saw the point at once, and
gracefully yielded to the Commodore's per-
suasive argument by releasing ten Danish and
Italian sailors who had been captured with
the american vessel to which they belonged.
Since the conquest of Algeria by the
French and the wholesome castigation in
ficted on the Morocco pirates by several
European powers, these "mild hammered "
cut-throats' occupation does not pay well,
and most of them have adopted some more
lucrative, if less congenial pursuit.
Like the ret Of the Barbary States, Tripo-
Ii, after being Greek colony and then a
province of the Roman Empire, was overrun
by the Saracens, and shared the vicissitudes
of their various dynasties in Northern Africa
Under the reign of Charles V, of Spain, it
Was occupied for small time by the Knights
Of Malta, who were subsequently driven out
by Sinan Bashaw, Solyman's lieutenant, and by
the celebrated Corsair, Dragut Rails. The still
more famous pirates Barbarossa and Hayraddin
took possession of Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli,
and established them as dependencies of
the Turkish empire. Retaining still the spirit
of these conquerors, they continued even after
the fall of the Turkish naval power to devote
themselves to piracy and their situation
along the Mediterranean enabled them to act
with terrible effect on the merchant navy of
Europe.
Between the end of the last and the begin
ming of the present century those three States
became virtually independent of Turkey, al
though the Turkish soldiers in Algiers con-
tinued to hold a barbarous sway, deposing and
electing the sovereign at their pleasure, until
the French conquest In Tunis and Tripoli
the Turks were reduced to submission by
Moorish and negro troops, Hamet Bashaw,
whom the inhabitants Of the last named State
in 1713 disowned the Sultans authority
and erected Tripoli into an independent prin-
cipality or Pachalick. This he did in truly
''barbaresque" fashion by inviting all
Turkish chiefs, three hundred in number, to
a great feast, during which he had them all
seized and strapgled. The adherents of this
hospitable Bashaw then commenced a gen.
eral massacre of the Turkish soldiery, where
by the Turkish sway in Tripoli was entirely
annihilated. The Porte, which could with
difficulty have vindicated its claims, suffered
itself to be pacified by presents and tribute,
and finally lost ali dominion over the State.
One of Hamet's descendants was some years
ago murdered by the negro troops, and his
successor, who was the last representative of
that line, made himself so odious that he was
compelled to abdicate, when the present Bey
was elected, and although he was confirmed
BY the Sultan, SO little does he regard himself
as q subject of the Porte that he makes
treaties with the foreign powers without con-
,ulting any one, and even connives at the
capture of Turkish vessels by his own SUBJ
ects.
Although the Bey of Tripoli claims author
ty over the 100000 inhabitants of that
province, which has an area of los, 600 square
miles, the Arab chiefs of the interior ackHowl-
edge but slight allegiance to him, and keep
On friendly terms with him merely because
the commerce carried on through the capitol
is advantageous to them. These Arabs or
Bedouins, who constitute four-ftths of the
population, often resort to hostilities, and SO
late as 1856 they advanced to the immediate
vicinity Of the capital.
This capital is city of about %, 600 inhab-
itants, the majority of whom are Moors and
negroes 1t is built in low situation, on
neck of land projecting into the sea, and is of
great extent. although large portion of the
space inclosed within its walls is unoccupied.
The streets are narrow and uneven, and the
honsas of the common reople MANLY huiit