The Princeton union., 1911-10-05
Has Been Under Turkish Domi.
nation Since I835...SuItan
Uses It as His Siberia.

"HE Turkish vilayet of Tripoli,
upon which Italy has designs,
IL occupies the territory on the
! north coast Of Africa, between
Egypt and Tunisia on the east and
west. To the north is the Mediterra-
mean, and to the south an uncertain
boundary line stretches approximately
TO the tropic of Cancer, in the district
of Fezzan, and elsewhere ends indefi-
nitely in the sandy wastes of the
Libyan desert. There are five sepa-
rate regions, known as Tripoli proper,
the Barca plateau (Cyrenaica), the
Aujila oases, Fezzan and the oases of
TGhadames and Chat, comprising to-
gether a territory of 100000 square
miles. The coast line on the Mediter-
ranean extends LOO miles. The in
habitants are estimated to number be-
tween 100000 and 100000.
Tripoli became Turkish vilayet, or
regency, in 1885. In the sixteenth
century the land fell under Turkish
domination, but this sovereignty was
scarcely enforced. Civil and military
authority is in the hands Of the vail,
or governor general, under whom are
the cantonal or district officers. Arab
tribes in the interior recognize still the
rule of their sheiks, and Berber as
semblies raise taxes. The population
is chiefly Berber, but there are many
Jews in the country. Of the 5000
Europeans in Tripoli, exclusive of the
10000 Turkish troops, the larger num-
Der are Italians and Maltese.
Sea carrying trade originating in
TripoH is for the most part in the
hands of the Italians Regular sail
lngs are between Tripoli and Malta
and Tripoli and Tunis. The products
are mainly agricultural, and total ex-
ports, including those of Bengazi,
average $5,O00O0O yearly. Barley, the
staple food of the people, is exported
in seasons of plenty, and sheep, goats,
oxen and WOOL hides and tropical
fruits are shipped to all parts of the
world. A considerable industry is that
of raising ostriches for plumes in the
southernmost districts. Tripoli is one
of the last strongholds of the slave
trade. Captives from central Africa
are brought across the desert to the
TRADERS in the Barbary cities
or the cities Of Tripoli, Barca, with
$4,000 Inhabitants, is the largest The
town of Tripoli is one of the oldest in
the world and is the Mediterranean
gateway Of the Sahara. Lying on the
African coast over against Sicily, it is
the natural terminus of the caravan
routes from the interior. To Tripoli
run the three great historic caravan
routes. One extends south to Lake
Chad, through Fezzan and Bilma,
crossing the Sahara at it's narrowest
point; another turns to the southwest
through the halting places Of Cha
danes and Chat, to Timbuktu and
IKano. and the third to the southeast,
Through Sokna to Wadai and Darfur.
The United States has been engaged
IN war with Tripoi twice. The pirates
who had their refuge in Tripoli were
the terror Of the Mediterranean, and
other nations regularly paid tribute for
the safety of vessels in those waters.
A demand for an increase in the Unit
ed States tribute of $4,000 was made
by the pasha in 1901. and three frig-
'ates and sloop of war were sent to
BLOCKADE Tripoi. The memorable fea-
lures of the two wars were the cap
ture of the frigate Philadelphia by the
ho 1o;% -
pSeen Decatur, who sailed into the har-
Dor in the little ketch Intrepid and un-
der fire Of the forts from the shore
burned the Philadelphia. and the pic
1turesque expedition commanded by
William Eaton across the desert from
Alexandria in an effort to enthrone in
"Tripoli an exiled pasha. In 1915 De-
catur compelled the dey Of Algiers to
promise to United States ships freedom
from molestation without payment Of
tribute. .: ,.,
; - 1taly's Long Dream.
|. For the last thirty-fve years-in
fact, ever since the various petty
states of Italy were welded into one
uQlCou Has Uccu Iue uI cdm
of the people subject to King Hum
bert's rule to possess a foothold on
the Mediterranean shores of Africa.
The wish is all the more natural see
ing that by far the greater portion OF
the trade between southern Europe
and the northern coast Of Africa is
carried on under the Italian flag and
that the commercial interests Of Italy
along the northern shore Of Africa are
superior to those Of every other Eu
ropean nation. Indeed, Throughout
the Levant Italian has been from tlm'
immemorial the European language
most exclusively used in commercial
social and official intercourse.
Tripoi is in every sense of the wor'
a land Of mystery. It is out of tn
beaten track OF tourists. In fact
there are no hotels or inns for tn
accommodation of white people in tn