Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1127

 TRIPOLI AND CYRENAICA 1005

Concession of Tientsin-— The Italian concession oi" Tientsin, under the agreement with China of June 7, 1902, lies on the left bank of the Peiho and has an area of about 18 sq. miles with a native population of about 17,000. It contains a village and salt-pits.

Tripoli and Cyrenaica.

(Libia Italiana.)

Tripoli fell under Turkish domination in the sixteenth century and, thouo-h, in 1714, the Arab population secured some measure of independence, the country was in 1835 proclaimed a Turkish vilayet. In September, 1911, a quarrel broke out between Turkey and Italy, and the latter invaded Tripoli and established an army there. On November 5, 1911, a decree was issued annexing Tripoli, and on February 23, 1912, the Italian Chamber passed the Bill which ratified the decree of annexation. The Avar, nevertheless, continued until October 18, 1912, when the Treaty of Ouchy was signed, by which the Sovereignty of Italy in Tripoli was established. This has now been recognised by the Great Powers. Italy accepted a clause, identical with tha? contained in the Austro- Hungarian treaty regarding Bosnia- Herzegovina, deahng with the exercise of religious authority by the Caliph. Tripoli will be administered under the Colonial Ministry. The entire area of the territory is estimated at about 406,000 square miles. According to a census taken on August 3, 1911, there were 523,176 natives, of whom 29,761 were in Tripoli town. The population is mostly Berber, but Jews are numerous. The civil European popu- lation numbers 5,000 or 6,000, mostly Maltese and Italians ; practically there are no Turkish settlers. Arabic is generally spoken, but Italian is the official language. Until recently the province contained the headquarters (Jerboub) of the Mohammedan sect of the Senussiyeh. The principal towns are on the coast, Tripoli, the capital of the vilayet, with 29,761 inhabitants, Benghazi with 35,000, Derna and Khoms; inland are the caravan halting places Ghadames, Murziik, and Ghat.

Tripolitania has four zones, the first of which, along the sea, is covered Avith palm, olive, lemon, and fruit trees. The second is formed by the highlands of Gebel and Tarhuna ; the former has olive groves and palm and fig trees, while cereals and safiion are also grown. The country, however, is rather barren. The Tarhuna land is rich in esparto grass. The rest of the second zone, which includes the hills of Mesellata and Bondara, as well as numerous valleys, is most fertile, and olive trees are abundant. The third zone consists 'chiefly of oases and is rich in palms. The oases (of which Gadames is the most important) are some distance apart. The fourth zone is covered with palms, figs, vines, and almonds.

In Cyrenaica, olives and cypresses predominate. Pasturage is abundant and cattle could be bred on a vast scale. Bananas are grown at Derna. Barley is the chief food of the people.

Cultivation in Tripolitania does not amount to much, though cottou, tobacco, castor beans, saffron, indicus, and henna are grown. Seventeen thousand tons of esparto were exported from the region in 1911.

There is a considerable caravan trade between Benghazi and Wadai and be- tween Tripoli and Central Sudan when the routes are free from raiders. An important article of trade is ostrich feathers which are brought overland from Central Africa, and exported to Paris and London from Tripoli to the value of 10,000Z. annually, and 6,OO0Z. from Benghazi. Turkish money has been withdrawn and a new monetary system is being introduced.