275 
the Levant, and Spanish piasters. At 40 leagues dis- 
tance is Bengassi, which is a good port, but so shallow 
that only very small vessels can get into it. The trade 
of this place is however very brisk in linen, butter, ho- 
ney, wax, and ostrich feathers, of which shipments are 
made for Marseilles, Leghorn, Venice, Malta, and Tri- 
poli. Fifty leagues from Bengassi is situated cape 
Messurat, with a bad road open to all winds. They 
export from hence only dates for Bengassi; at 38 leagues 
distance west from cape Messurat, is Tripoli in Barba- 
ry. The port, which is too shallow to admit large 
men of war, is open to N. E. w T inds. They export wool, 
dates, saffron, madder, kali, senna, negro women, furs, 
and ostrich feathers, for the above mentioned Euro- 
pean ports, and for the east. At 10 leagues westward, 
is ancient Tripoli, with a port that is almost impracti- 
cable for any but very small vessels, which take in kali 
here for Tripoli. Twenty-four leagues further is Suara, 
with a road fit to receive small vessels, which take in 
cargoes of salt, and pickled fish, for the whole coast. 
The kingdom of Tripoli in all its vast extent con- 
tains only two millions of inhabitants. The greatest 
part of the country is a desert, and except the inhabi- 
tants of the capital, all the rest is peopled with the most 
miserable Arabs. The authority of the government of 
the country is so very precarious, that, except these 
Arabs, nobody dares to travel at any distance without 
a caravan, or a strong escort, for fear of being robbed 
and assassinated. 
The inhabitants of Suakem, Fezzan, and'Gudde- 
mes, who pay tribute to Tripoli, hold intercourse with 
the natives. of the interior parts of Africa. The sove- 
