TRIPOLI, a country in Northern Africa, which extends along the southern shores of the Mediterranean, from 11° to 25° E. long. In , this direction alone the boundary-line of the country is tolerably well determined ; on all other sides it is surrounded by countries which form portions of the Sahara, or Great Desert, or are unfit for cultiva tion. Though Fezzan, which lies south of Tripoli, is governed by its own chief, be is really dependent on the Basha of Tripoli, as he pays regularly an annual tribute.
About the middle of the coast-line of Tripoli is a wide and open gulf, which the ancients called the Greater Syrtis, and is now the Gulf of Sidra, or of Sort. The Beduin Arabs who inhabit the coast call it Giun-el-Kebrit, or the Gulf of Sulphur. Cape 3lesumta is on the west side of it, and the town of Bengazi on the east ; the distance between these places is 282 miles. The eircumferenco of the gulf is 488 miles. Where it extends farthest to the south, its depth does not much exceed 120 miles. (Svans.) Coastline and of the town of Tripoli the coast is low and sandy, and contains no harbour except that of Old Tripoli, which is almost choked up with sand. Tripoli itself is a good harbour, having from 4 to 6 fathoms water, and being sheltered by a chain of rocks which project from the north-east angle of the town, north-eastward, and by a shoal lying on the eastern side of the eotrnnce. The low and sandy coast continues eastward of the town as far as Cape Sciarra, and contains no harbour. Eastward of Cape Sciarra the coast is higher, and consists of rocky points and capes, with sandy bays between them, a few of which afford shelter for small vessels. The port of Lebda (the ancient Leptis Magna) is now filled up, but there is a small place, called Mersa Ligatah, a mile and a half to the west of the ruins of Lebda, where small vessels find a shelter, except when the wind is from the east. Near &Men Point, which is rocky, is a small cove called Mersa Zeliteo. East of Zeliten the coast is rocky and at times rises into cliffs. Along this coast arc several reefs of rocks which form Mersa Zoraig and Mersa Gusser, small harbours which do not afford shelter for shipping. Near Cape Meaurata is a line of high rocky coast, forming three projecting cliffs, of which the eastern is Cape Mcsurata, the Cephalus Promon torium of Strabo. But the entrance of the Gulf of Sidra is formed by a low rocky point, and a mile south of it is the Bay of Buslutifa, which has good anchorage in 0 fathoms water.
The west coast of the Gulf of Sidra, south of the Bay of Basilan and as far as Mena Zafferan, runs in au unbroken lino south, south east, and east for nearly 150 miles. It is very low and sandy, and a low ridgo of sand-hills extends parallel to the shores at the distance of from one to three miles from them. Some parts of this coast are
strewed with wrecks, masts, and yards, &c., which shows that there must be a great act Of the sea from the northeast upon it, as none of them are seen on the eastern shore of the gulf. Mersa Zafferan is a small port, in which boats may find shelter with all winds. A few miles east of it the coast rises into cliffs. The high coast continuos for nearly thirty miles, when it again sinks nearly to the level of the sea, but has sand-hills a abort distance from it. There are here several small bays, and one in particular at Hammah, in which boats may find shelter. Five miles eastward of Hammah the coast is hilly, but soon declines again to the low sandy beach which continues to Ras How-y jer, having a range of hills about two or three miles from the coast. has How-y-jer is a bluff rock, which stands at the entrance of a spacious bay, formed between it and a bold rocky promontory called Beugerwad. In this bay shipa may find shelter from east to west north-west, and boats may land in the sandy bay with almost all winds. Beugerwad is about 60 feet high, but east of it the coast gets low, and small sandy bays are formed between very low rocky flats, some of which project a mile into the sea, and are not more than a foot above water. Towards the most southern extremity is a low rocky islet called Bushaifa. Sachrin, at the bottom of the gulf; is in 30° 16' N. lat.; and hence the coast trends to the north-east. From Sachrin to Gartflbah is a sandy beach, but the general appearance of the coast is hilly. Near Gartfibloah is Mersa Braiga, the only place in the Gulf of Sidra that is entitled to the name of a port; and here the protection is made by breakers. A rocky point runs into the sea, and within this point there is always safe landing. From Braiga the coast trends northeast by east, is rocky and slightly indented, and the shore generally speaking is high and hilly. Ras Tabilba is a bold promon tory with a sandy bay on each side of it. The high rocky coast ter minates opposite the rock of Ishaifa, from which some reefs extend to the island of Clara, which is small, hut tolerably high and steep. The low coast, which begins near Ishaifs, trends north-east to Shawban, and thence to the west of north to Carcora : it is sandy, and does not offer a place of refuge even for a boat; but the coast near Careora is much indented, and there are two small places somewhat sheltered by projecting points, which offer protection for boats with northerly or easterly winds. From Career& to Bengazi the shore is low and sandy, but it rises as it recedes from the coast, and is covered with vegetation.