Peezas. Africa, Egypt, and Arabia. 
814 
Its trade is, of conse- 
—\— quence, considerable ; and its inhabitants are the most 
Manufac- 
ment 
—— merchants in that quarter of the globe ; 
but thei traffic consists chiefly in foreign merchandize, 
and they are enriched by the carrying trade across the 
deserts. The capital, Mourzouk, is the great resort 
ef numerous caravans from Cairo, Bengasi, Gadames, 
Troat, and Soudan; and the rendezvous of all the 
Mahomedan pilgrims from the west and south of Africa 
on their way to Mecca. The caravans from the south 
and west bring, as articles of commerce, slaves of both 
sexes, ostrich feathers, tiger skins, zibette, and gold, 
partly in dust, and partly in native grains, to be ma- 
nufactured into ornaments for the mhabitants of the 
interior. From Bornou, copper is imported in great 
uantities ; from Cairo, silks, calicoes, cloths, and East 
ndia goods; tobacco, snuff, and Turkey ware from 
Bengasi; paper, fire-arms, sabres, red worsted caps, 
and woollen cloths, from Tripoli and Gadamer ; and 
butter, oil, corn, senna, and camels, from the Tuarics 
and southern Arabs. ; 
There are no articles of manufacture produced in 
the country, and the natives discover no ingenuity as 
artificers. The only tradesmen are shoemakers and 
smiths ; and the latter work every metal without dis- 
tinction, so that the same » who forges shoes for 
the sultan’s horse, forms rings for the princesses. The 
women, indeed, make a coarse woollen cloth called 
abbe ; but, so imperfect is their manufacturing skill, 
that the whole work is performed solely by the hand, 
and the woof is inserted into the warp thread by 
thread. 
The country of Fezzan is governed by a Sultan, who 
igns with unlimited authority over his subjects, but 
tole his dominione ss tributary to the Bashaw of Tri- 
poli, The crown is hereditary, but/does not always de- 
seend from father to son. The law of succession re- 
quires, that, when a v: occurs, the oldest prince 
of the blood royal shall ascend the throne, a ion 
which ly occasions an to the sword. 
The Sultan, by the rales of the state, must always be 
of the family of the Shereefs of Waden or Zuila. The 
palace is situated within the fortress of the capital, and 
the Sultan lives there retired, without any other in- 
mates, except the eunuchs, who act as his attendants. 
The Harem is contiguous to the royal residence, and 
’ the females are brought to the apartment of the sove- 
reign, who never enters their habitation. He never 
appears. without the castle walls, except on Fridays, 
when he goes to the great , or on other public 
festivals, when he is attended by his whole court.. On 
these days of solemnity, he rides on horseback, in a 
plain on the outside of the town, where his courtiers 
exhibit their skill in ao exercises, or practise the 
art of shooting. On days of state and ceremony, 
the Sultan's consists of a large white stuff frock 
or shirt, in the Sondan fashion, and brocaded 
with gold and silver. Under this covering, he wears 
the ordinary dress of the Tripolitans, without any thin 
temarkable in his. except his turban, whi 
extends a full yard from the front to the hinder part, 
and is not less than two thirds of a yard in breadth. 
His official attendants. are the first and second minis- 
ters of state, both of whem must: be freeborn ‘men, 
but whose influence, notwithstanding their nominal 
rank, is very inconsiderable; the general of his forces, 
who may be appointed from any class at the sovereign’s 
re; a number of black slaves, who are purcha- 
sed when boys, and educated for the court according 
FEZZAN. 
‘ is most qualified by his lear 
es pale eg ar pon who can best 
or write. mee sees sultan’s family also 
oe 
ext to the cadi, as head of the clergy, 
1s the great iman, 
es, , 
foreign le, from assessments on all gardens and 
cultivated lands, and from arbitrary fines 
i consists in the main- 
princes of the royal family are 
of corn delivered w: = 
to those wha.hold the respective offices. 1 Nae 
, a AY am nm Nc I 
among which there are few places note, and 
4 a 1 The incipal 
. Its 
environs are well watered, remarkable for fertility, full 
of groves of date-trees, and better cultivated than most 
other places, It contains many vestiges of ancient 
splendour, cisterns, vaulted caves, &c. which some 
writers consider as the remains of Roman architecture ; 
but the ruins, which Mr Horneman observed, were en- - 
tirely of Mahommedan ns Jerma, or Yerma, un- 
questionably the Garama of the Romans, and the capi 
tal of the country at the time of its bekngaabGemet 
their arms, is situated as far to the west as Zuila is to 
the east of Mourzouk, and is full of majestic ruins, and 
ancient inscriptions. Temissa, about. 120 miles east- 
ward of the capital, is rather a garrison than a town, 
built on a hill, and surrounded by a high wall ; the in- 
habitants of which derive their chief subsistence'from 
the date trees, and employ themselves in keeping sheep 
and The ruins 
dated houses, built of lime-stone, and cem 
reddish mortar. ‘Katron, or Gatron, about 60 miles. 
south of Mourzouk, is remarkable only for the multi- 
tude of common fowls reared .by its inhabitants, and the 
abundant crops of Indian corn in its neighbourhood. 
1 
