320 THE AFRICAN' ASSOCIATION. 
than in medical applications. The government 
is purely monarchical, and is only restrained by 
the influence of opinion, which, among rude na- 
tions, constitutes a feeble barrier to injustice. 
The royal family is descended from that of Ta- 
philet, by whom Fezzan was conquered about 
400 years ago. From that period to the middle 
of the last century, this kingdom maintained its 
independence, when it was conquered by the 
Basha of Tripoli, and forced to pay an annual tri- 
bute of 50 slaves and 10 lbs. of gold dust. The 
Tripolitan Basha still speaks of his kingdom of 
Fezzan, but the annual tribute has been reduced 
to an insignificant occasional present. The re- 
venues of the king arise from the duties upon 
merchandise, and the taxes of the towns, villages, 
gardens, and date fields. Gold dust is the me- 
dium of commerce. No national forces are main- 
tained in Fezzan ; but it is supposed that about 
20,000 armed men may be raised on an emer- 
gency. Fezzan is separated from the domains of 
Tripoli on the north, by the black barren desert 
of Soudah, the soil of which is chiefly composed 
of a soft stone, which gives rise to no vegetable 
but the talke-tree and a species of broom. 
Gadamis, an oasis of much smaller extent, lies 
on the N. W. of Fezzan, about N. lat. 8^2. It is 
situated 24- journeys to the south of Tunis, and 48 
to the north of Agadez in Cassina, and is tributary 
