264 
The whole number of the inhabitants may be estimated 
at about twelve or fifteen thousand souls; the popular 
tion consists of Moors, Turks, and Jews; and as the 
government was formerly entirely composed of Turks, 
the civilization is much more advanced than at Moroc- 
co. Silk, and tissues of gold and silver, are generally 
employed in their dresses. The court is as brilliant as 
possible. Most part of the inhabitants know and speak 
various European languages. Thepasha himself speaks 
Italian. The Moors look upon this as a sin. 
Society is much more free and easy than at Morocco, 
The European consuls came often to pay me visits, 
and nobody cared about it. European renegadoes are 
advanced to places, and may obtain the highest rank, 
The admiral or chief of the whole Tripolitan marine is 
an English renegado, who has married a relation of the 
pasha's. The Christian slaves are well treated; they 
are permitted to serve any body, on condition of giving 
part of the profits to government. 
The sovereign of Tripoli preserves still the title of 
pasha, because the country was formely governed by a 
pasha, who was sent every three years by the grand 
seignior. These ephemeral pashas considered the fir- 
mans, which constituted their nominations, as an authori- 
zation to commit their robberies on the inhabitants; but 
tired of these vexations, the people assassinated the last 
pasha of the Sublime Porte, and in pursuance of this 
revolution, which took place about eighty-years ago, 
they chose for their prince Sidi Hhamet Caramanli, a 
native of Caramania, who took also the title of pasha, 
and who was the founder of the present dynasty. After 
Sidi Hhamet, his son Sidi Ali, father of the present pa. 
