The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-11-03

CO4STAETzUESR F0PT - 90
| Tripoli and the other Barbary states
ere 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 TAG Tripolt was cap
tured by Roger IL. of Sicily and was
retaken by the Moslems In 1884. For a
time 1t vas subject to Tunis. Early
in the sixteenth century it was taken
by the Spaniards 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 Tripod, 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 soo be-
absorbed by France. Thus Of the old
Barbary states only one-Tripoli-re-
mains under the Turkish flag and that
flag will soon give way to the standard
of modern Italy.
TrlpoIi and Its People.
Tripoli, with Barca and Fezzan. has
an area of 400 900 square miles and a
population Of a million. The country
between the Atlas mountains and he
Mediterranean Is fertile and is capable
OF being successfully titled. But the
gu sc CT Turnisl rui, IS ave : 1t and
lgT culture ah1 industry ale stat Aant.
Vi the fruits which gov IN Il J trop-
ke Lay be r.i."d ano at ne re.fod OF
Re NAT sgceuda Icy pro u nus sua1tT-
ia Of Oiiv, waie re- &c, IN Bai ID,
then famous for its fertility: now in
large sectors a veritable sandy waste.
The natives. consisting OF Rerbers, the
descendants Of the original settlers:
Arabs, Turks. Mamelukes, Jews and
negro slaves. are engaged In agrtcul-
tural and pastoral pursuits. Some OF
the people carry on manufacture; and
Tripoli has a reputation for fine wooden
goods and fabrics fashioned from
goats hair. Considerable quantities Of
ivory. spices, gold dust and dyes are
transported 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, 1t was not unusual to see q
caravan of 10000 camels bearing the
products of the interior to the marts
of the littoral.
In Tripoli as throughout the whole OF
the Barbary states there Is great d.
versity of races. Bedouins roam over
it's arid sands and far in the interior
movement, 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
cave Some find shelter In tents,
or in huts made from the branches Of
trees and daubed with mud. In the
towns and settlements they rise to the
dignity of dwelling in stone houses.
To a large extent they are pastoral and
when their resources run low they be-
come robbers.
In Its past history the United States
has been at war with Tripoli and
others Of the Barbary states; and soma
Of the most brilliant achievements OF
the American navy were performed in
the waters that lave the northern coast
Of Africa
What may be the future of Tripoli
rests securely among those unsolved
problems to which history holds the
key. Italy. into whose possession it is
destined to fall, has had little expert.
ence as a c%olonizer. Her attempt III
Abyssinia was disastrous and ended
in the tragedy at Adowa In 1896.
when hGr army suffered defeat by the
followers Of Menelek. But in Tripoli
she will find a better and a clearer
field. within a short sail from her
own outpost islands in the Mediter.
ranean. The country is capable Of
great development. The native races.
If handled as carefully and as Justly
as France deals with the peoples Of
Algeria and Tunis. will prove tract.
able; and with the fruits OF their
labors assured to them will become
industrious and provident.