Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-12-05
FEW CHANCES IN TRIPoEI
Not a Land Of Possibility, As Italy
Had Hoped.

Not Land OF Possibility, AZ iraIy
Had Hoped.
The Geographical Journal of Lon
don for November prints an article
on Tripoli by DR.. Adolf Vischer; who,
referring to the rans-Saharan trade.
says:
In former days, when West Africa
and its rivers were unknown to Euro
peans, Tripoli used to be the terminus
of the traffic across the Sahara. The
goods which arrived from Hausaland
and the Niger countries were ostrich
, feathers, ivory, metals, and skins and
slaves. In exchange the productions
Of European markets were taken
south. Since the middle Of the last
century this trade has gradually de-
clined. First, the slave traffic was
stopped by the European representa-
tives in Tripoli and by the Turks. 1t
has been said that slave traffic is still
going on. on the Benghazi- i-Wadai
route, but is 1t difficult to test the
truth Of such assertions as, In any
case, the traffic Is carried on secretly.
slaves were the most renumerative Of
Saharan trade.
Then came the advent of European
administration in Hausaland and the
Niger countries This, and the occu-
patton Of Tunis and Egypt by France
and Great Britain, drove all indepen-
dent tribes to the eastern Sahara,
where they began to molest and rob
the caravans. Further, the shipping
facilities were increased on the rivers
Niger and Benue. The goods from
Bornu and Kano were sent down to
the Gulf of Guinea, whence they reach
Europe in two weeks time. The new
route was safer, shorter in time and
less expensive than the 1000 mile
journey across the Sahara. A few
figures may illustrate the decline wit
messed during the last few years. The
trade in ostrich feathers. valued in
1890 at $250.000, had fallen by 1905 to
$4,000 while the figures for ivory
are: 1890. 925,OOo; 1905. a1,5oo. The
value of the goods sent to the south
was 100000 in 1894, but in 1906 only
10000. Today 1t is only the route
from Benhazi to Wadai which is some
what frequented, although 1t is a most
difficult one. But, with the coming
occupation Of Wadai by the French,
the trade Of that country viii probab-
ly take western and southern direc-
ton.
Although the Sahara has lost it's
Importance In the worlds trade, 1t Is,
and will be, crosses by numbers Of
pious Moslems from the Mahomme-
dan West African countries who un-
dertake the pilgrimages to Mecca.
The Trans -Saharan trade Is practical
ly at an end. but this spiritual or
Tripoli and Nigeria through these pill
grims remains.
The prospects of Tripoli in the fu-
ture depend solely on agriculture. The
hopes of mineral wealth In the soil
are based on no solid ground; on the
contrary Prof. Gregory and Mr.. Pei
vinquiere are definitely pessimistic
about mining prospects in Cyrenaica
and Tripoli respectively No doubt
lightansd- adninistFat ion increase
the fertility Of the soil. But much
capital would be required for con-
struction of artesian wells and irriga-
tion works, and there Is great doubt
whether the sanguine hopes enter
tained in some quarters are likely to
be realized. When I was in Tripoli
last year Frenchman obtained a con-
cession to construct an artesian well
outside the Meshia, but he abandoned
the work when he had bored to
depth of 240 feet without finding any
trace Of water.
Some of the Roman writer's speak
in terms of high praise regarding the
fertility Of Tripoli, and many at the
present day hold the opinion that the
country may yet revert to Its old
glories under European guidance. But
the prospects are less favorable when
we consider the results Of the careful
investigations Of Prof. Gregory, which
accounts of the ancient authors were
not a little exaggerated. Then again
some scientists hold that the present
miserable condition Of the country is
due to climatic changes; further 1t Is
obvious to the most casual observer
that the migrating dunes which have
been allowed to invade the Jefara are
serious hindrance to any asricultur-
al undertaking. Within a very few
Whlh VI Tic
of the Meshia dunes can be seen ris-
ing to a height of about fifty feet.
Tripoli is known only in its broader
features, and we may still class some
parts Of Fezan and Of Cyrenaica
among the unknown lands Of Africa.
Since 1880 a special firman has been
required for any excursion extending
beyond the immediate surroundings
Of the city of Tripoli. Considering
the insecurity in some parts Of the
country and fearing that any accident
which might happen to traveller
would cause friction with foreign
power, the Turkish authorities thought
1t wisest to stop travel altogether.
Apart from the coast the country has
never been surveyed, and the existing
maps are based mainly on the route
sketches of different travellers.
The correspondent Of the Popolo
Romano, a Ministerial organ, writing
from Tripoli, evidently recognizes the
facts as stated In the Geographical
Journal by DR.. Vischer. He has the
common sense to disillusion his fell
low countrymen as to the immediate
future of their new colony, which per-
fervid southern writer's in the early
DAYS of the war described as q land
flowing with milk and honey and in
habited by a pacific and hospitable
Arab population. He writes:
I left Rome with my heart full
of the rosiest illusions, which were
further increased during my journey
across Sicily, where a legion Of for
tune seekers Is anxiously awaiting the
moment to land in Tripoli. Well, my
advice Is DO not move from where
you are" At Tripoli now and for a
long time to come there Is nothing to
attract or encourage initiative work
or small private capital.
He then points out that the aid OF
the government and Of large public
companies will be required to make
Tripoli productive. Three small Ital-
ian capitalists who travelled with him
full Of hope are now waiting the first
steamer to take them back to Italy
thoroughly disheartened. OF the Arabs
he says: "They are lazy, wretched,
sickly, living on aims or by the hum
blest services" while all the retail =
trade Is in the hands of the Jews and
Maltese, whose aim is to spend as lit
tie as possible. He concludes with the
prophecy that at least twenty years