1907.] TRIPOLI. 197 



from a historical standpoint in these places. Of course, the 

 sand has drifted to such an extent over the sites of those ancient 

 gardens, statues and buildings, and everything else that they 

 are practically covered. Some of it probably to a depth of 

 twenty feet or more. 



The old city stood in practically the same place as the 

 modern city of Tripoli. At some future time investigation of 

 that ground will undoubtedly disclose rich historical finds. 

 Nobody knows how large a population lived in that locality in 

 those early days, or to what extent civilization was developed 

 among them. 



Of course, one of the most striking things about the city 

 that the foreigner notices is the mosques, the Mohammedan 

 churches, the entrance to which is very jealously guarded. 

 The Mohammedans are fanatical to a degree, and will not 

 allow an impious foot to step inside of their mosques. An 

 exception, however, was made in our case, and we, for the 

 first time, were allowed to go into six of these mosques, and in 

 five of them I am quite sure we were the first Christians ever 

 to be admitted. I am sure I was the first Christian woman ever 

 to be admitted into one of these places of worship. I wish I 

 had time to describe them in detail. Some of them are very 

 beautiful and very interesting. 



It is difficult for me to know just what phase of the large 

 subject would interest you most. I have found upon looking 

 over my memoranda of Tripoli that there was so much of in- 

 terest and so many different points that I w^ould like to dwell 

 upon that I hardly know what to speak of. I think a talk on 

 the arts of Tripoli would be most interesting. Some friends 

 were saying to me, " Mrs. Todd, why don't you give a talk 

 about the desert ? " Well, there is so much to say about the 

 desert that I would have to talk to you at the rate of 210 words 

 a minute in order to cover the subject within the time allotted 

 to me, and even then I am afraid I would not give you an 

 adequate idea of the charms of that region. To me it is all 

 very wonderful. I was deeply impressed when I was first 

 there, and if I had known I was to go back a second time 

 would have studied some features of it more closely. 



Aside from the historical interest of the city itself and its 

 surroundings, many of the buildings possess a peculiar interest. 



