Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-02-07

--M@Ss2A8
coASE AsxEDag FaeT |S 50
Trlpoli and the other Barbary states
were 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 H. of Sicily and was
retaken by the Moslems in 1884. For
time it was 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 it 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 one-Tripoli-re-
mains under the-Turkfsh flag and that
flag will soon give way to the standard
OF modern Italy.
Tripoli and Its People.
1fffs7i0h. me 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 sprodigious quanti-
ties of olives were produced in Barca,
then famous for its. 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 woolen
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. ;Ghen, we
are tod, it was not unusual to see a
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.
,ersity of races. Bedouins roam over
is arid sands and far in the interior
ire the hardy Berbers, cat-like in
intolerant O. restraint,
,roud of lineage which is lost in the
wilight of history, quick to resent an
injury, but hospitable to strangers.
some of them still five 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
ignity of dwelling in stone houses.
o large extent they are pastoral and
'hen their resources run low they be-
ONE robbers.
In its past history the United States
as been at war with Tripoli and
theirs Of the Barbary states; and some
the most brilliant achievements of
1e American navy were performed in
lie 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
ey. Italy, into whose possession 1t is
estined to fall. has had little expert
ice as colonizer. Her attempt in
byssinia was disastrous and ended +
the tragedy at Adowa in 1896,
hen her army suffered defeat by the F
flowers of Menelek. But in Tripoli h
Ie will find better and clearer
I'D, within a short sail from her
vn outpost islands in the Mediter-
mean. The country is capable Of e
eat development. The native races,
handled as carefully and as Justly
France deals with the peoples Of u
geria and Tunis, will prove tract
lie; and with the fruits of their
Dors assured to them will become =
dustrious and provident. y