I04 
MR- LUCAS'S 
But great as the privileges of this high order unqueftionably 
nre, the individuals who compofe it have no union or general 
concert with each other ; for neither in contefts for power, nor 
ill refiftance to oppreffion, do they ever aQ: as a body. 
Some of the clafs are devoted to the indolence of a religious 
life ; but a larger proportion is engaged in the aftive concerns 
and progreffive purfuits of commerce : for, in general, the de- 
fcendants of Mahomet, following the example of their great an- 
ceftor, are either Princes or Merchants. 
The Revenue of Fezzan is compofed of a variety of branches, 
the principal of which are, 
I ft, A tax on towns and villages, at the rate of from lOO to 
500 mitkals each. The number of towns and villages is efti- 
mated at lOO; and the value of a mitkal at about ten fliiUings 
Englifli : confequently, the tax ©11 each towaand village is from 
50I. to 250I. fterUng. 
2d, A tax on every eameFs load of goods (provifions for the 
market excepted) which enters the capital. The rate of this 
impoft is one mitkal, or ten Ihillings Engiifli, per load. 
3<i> The 
