For the last 300 years Tripoli, like the other Barbary states, has been considered a dependency of the Ottoman Porte; but the allegiauce of these states principally arose from the sultan being the chief of the Mohammedan religion. Yet, as has been seen, they made separate and distinct treaties with other powers, and were so far independent.
At first the governors or bashes of Tripoli were sent from Constanti nople, supported by a garrison of Turks, who kept the Moors in subjection; and being liable to be recalled, they generally purchased the continuance of their appointment by remitting a handsome tribute to the supreme government, and exacting as much as possible for themselves. But in 1713, llama Caramauli, a Moorish chief, and second in command, headed a well-concerted rebellion, and was pro claimed basha by the people. After murdering the Turkish officers and garrison he contrived to render the government hereditary in the family, which continued so until 1832, when the last basha of the family, Yusauf, after a tyrannical reign of forty years, was obliged to abdicate, and the Porte established again the old policy of governing the country under a chief appointed from Constantinople. The interior of the country however enjoys no settled government. The chiefs of Aujilah and Ghadamis keep on terms of friendship with the bailie only because the situation of their territories requires an outlet for their commerce. The Arab chiefs frequently break out into actual hostilities against the Turkish rule : as lately as July 1855 headed by a chief named Gourmah, the Arabs, after defeating a large Turkish force, were reported to be approaching the very gates of the city of Tripoli The foreign trade of Tripoli is carried on chiefly with Malta, Tunis, the Levaut, whither the produce of the country and goods brought from the interior of Africa by caravans (which convoy slaves, ivory, gold-dust, aeons, matron, &..e.,) are sent in exchange for European and other manufactured goods. Tripoli has at present no marine of its own. never had a standing army beyond the three or four huoelrvd Mamluk guards of the basha; but the town is now garrisoned by 4000 Turkish troope.
Aativiitita—Most of the towns in the regency possess interesting amain, particularly in the Peutapolia, where innumerable chambers are hewn out of the rocky bill, throughout : some of them with archi tectural elevations, sculpture, and inscriptions. The ruins of tomples,
theatres., and aqueducts of Roman construction, are particularly trace able at Ohrenna (Cyrano), Tanehira (Arsinoii), Tolmeta (Ptolemais), and Mersa Sum (Apollouia). Lebida (Leptis Magna) seems to have been completely ravaged, and what ruins there are, are deeply buried in gaud. In the city of Tripoli atands a fine Roman arch, whose aelidity of construction has preserved it from ruin. It was built in the 2nd century ; the inscription is perfect., but the sculptures are almost wholly effaced. At Tripoli Vecchia there ie an amphitheatre of Roman construction still entire of 148 feet in diameter, with five rows of seats ; and in the same direction still exists the remnant of one of the great Roman ways, on the borders of which are observable the ruins of ancient bnildings iu stone. Money, coins, and precious stones and gems, mostly intaglios, for which the people of Cyrene were once famed, have been found on the site of the ancient Berenice.
Ghadasnis.—The oases of Aujilsh, Fezzan, and Ghadamis are gene rally dependent on Tripoli. [Ammon; FEZZAN.) Ohadamis is situeted to the south-west of Tripoli, in 30' 40' N. lat., 10° 25' E. long., distant from it about fifteen days' journey, and as many from the town of Cabe', in the kingdom of Tunis. The inhabitants, amounting to about 6000 or 7000, are a quiet trading people, and seldom take part in the political vicissitudes of Tripoli. The town, which contains the ruins of Roman buildings, is said to have been aRoman establishment, the Cydamum of Pliny. (' Nat. Hist,' v. 5.) Its importance arises from the four commercial roads which from this point strike into the interior regions of Africa. The first passes through Mezda and Sockna, takes a southern course to Mourzouk, and so on to Bournou and the Lake Tchad, and its neighbouring countries of Kanem and Beghermi ; the second, or direct southern road, leads to the city of Great and across the desert of Soudan, passing through Agadez to Houssa and Kasseena; the third, the Great Desert, and passing through Ainel-Salab and Akabli, in country of Tuat, leads directly to Tim buctoo, where some of the people of Ghadannis are settled ; the fourth is the western road, which, passing to the south of the great chain of Mount directs its course towards Marocco by