Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1911-11-24


were a chaos from that time to the
present. Changes of dynasty were
frequent and states sprang into despot-
ic independence, only to dissolve again
and form new political and geograph-
ical divisions. In 1146 Tripoli was cap
tured by Roger IL. of Sicily and was
retaken by the Moslems In 1884. For a
time 1t was subject to Tunis. Early
In the sixteenth century 1t was taken
by the Spanlards and was later trans
| ferred to the Knights of st. John of
Jerusalem, In whose hands 1t remained
until 1851, when the Turks took posses
sion. Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli, all
were finally brought under the govern
ment of the sultan of Constantinople.
Algeria passed under French dominion
in 1880; Tunis shared the same fate in
1882; Morocco. the ancient Maure-
tania, has been a sultanate for many
centuries and probably will soon be
absorbed by France. Thus of the old
Barbary states only ne-Tripoli--re-
mains under the Turkish flag and that
flag will soon give way to the standard
of modern Italy.
Tripoli and Its People.
Tripoli. with Barca and Fezzan. has
an area of 10000 square miles and a
population of a million. The country
between the Atlas mountains and the
Mediterranean is fertile and is capable
of being successfully titled. But the
curse of Turkish rule is over 1t and
agriculture and industry are stagnant.
All the fruits which grow in the trop-
les may be raised and at the period of
Roman ascendancy prodigious quanti-
ties of olives were produced In Barca,
then famous for It's fertility; now in
large sections veritable sandy waste
The natives, consisting of Berbers, the
descendants of the original settlers;
Arabs. Turks, Mamelukes. Jews and
negro slaves, are engaged in agricul-
tural and pastoral pursuits. Some OF
the people carry on manufacture; and
Tripoli has reputation for fine wooden
goods and fabrics fashioned from
goats hair. Considerable quantities of
ivory, spices. gold dust and dyes are |
by camel caravans from |
the sandy interior to the coast. though |
not to the extent that obtained in the
days of Carthaginian rule. when. we
are told, II was not unusual to see
caravan Of $4,000 camels bearing the
products of the interior to the marts
Of the littoral
In Tripoli as throughout the whole of
he Barbary states there is great d.
gersity of races. Bedouins roam over
is arid sands and far In the interior
IRE the hardy Berbers, cat-like in
intolerant of restraint.
proud OF lineage which is lost in the
twilight of history. quick to resent an
injury, but hospitable to strangers.
Some of them still live the lives of the
ave men. Some find shelter in tents,
" In huts made from the branches of
rees and daubed with mud In the
owns and settlements they rise to the
lightly of dwelling in stone houses.
70 large extent they are pastoral and
when their resources run low they be-
ome robbers
In its past history the United States
las been at war with Tripol and
theirs of the Barbary states; and some
I the most brilliant achievements of
he American navy were performed in
he waters that lave the northern coast
{ Africa
What may be the future of Tripoli
ests securely among those unsolved
roblems to which history holds the q
ey Italy. into whose possession it is c
estined to fall. has had little expert {
nee as cocnizer. Her attempt in c
bvssinia was disastrous and ended I
! the tragedy at Adowa In 1896. s
hen her army suffered defeat by the n
blowers of Menelek But in Tripod ;
be win find better and clearer .
cid. within short sail from her q
wn outpost islands in the Mediter-
anean. The country is capable OF
reat development. The native races.
handled as carefully and as justly G.
J France deals with the peoples OF II
lgeria and Tunis. win prove tract d
BILE; and with the fruits OF their y
bors assured to them viii become 3
ldustrious and provident Ia