104 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
His fon Haflan being only in his fifteenth year, diflentions 
arofe among the great. 
1 1 25. A Sicilian fleet ravaged the ifle of Gerbi. 
1 146. The Sicilians feized Tripoli, which they held fix 
months, and then retired. 
A dreadful famine in Africa, fo that even human carcafes 
were devoured. Many of the inhabitants fled to Sicily. 
Roger king of Sicily fent out a fleet of an hundred and fifty 
fail, ■ loaded with foldiers and ammunition. Having captured 
an African fhip, with fome pigeons on board, Georgi the 
Chriftian admiral forced the captain to write a letter, import- 
ing that the Sicilian fleet had failed to Conftantinople. The 
pigeon flew back to Mehedie ; and the inhabitants were exult- 
ing in the intelligence, when the hoftile fleet appeared before 
the city. On landing, the Sicilians found the place totally 
abandoned, and the pillage lafted ten hours. Sfax and Sus 
were alfo taken ; and the Sicilians became mafl:ers of all the 
coaft from Tripoli to Tunis. 
Thefe events, accompanied with inteftine commotions, ter- 
minated the rule of the Zeirite dynafty. Haifan-ben-Ali was 
the laft prince. 
SECT. 
