102 
M^- LUCAS'S 
ifiege to the capital, defeated, and took captive the King, and 
carried him a prifoner to Tripoli. For two years the unfor- 
tunate Monarch was detained in bondage, but at the end of that 
period, on the condition of an annual tribute of fifty flaves and 
ten pounds of gold duft, the Balliaw reftored him to his Crown. 
Till the acceffion of the prefent King of Fezzan, this tribute 
was faithfully tranfmitted ; but the reigning Sovereign, con- 
fcious of the declining power of Tripoh, and of the internal 
-ftrength which the afFedion and confidence of his people had 
given to his Kingdom, has gradually diminiflied the amount, 
and altered the nature of the acknowledgement ; for it now con- 
fifts in an occafional prefent of a few flaves, and of a pound or 
two of gold duft, and is rather the compliment of a trading 
State to the Kingdom in which its principal commodities are 
fold, than a proof of political dependence. Still, however, the 
expreflion of mjy Kingdom of Fezzan is in frequent ufe with the 
reigning Bafliaw of Tripoli, who is the grandfon of the Con- 
queror ; nor has the dependence of the former State on the lat- 
ter been ever diredlj renounced,'^ 
In 
* When I was at Fezzan, about twenty years ago, the aftual government was 
committed to an Alcaid, ^^ ho received his annual appointment from the Bafliaw of 
TripoH. 
Ben Alli. 
