TRIPOLY TO BENGAZI. 
21 
case on the coasts of the Greater Syrtis, and Cyrenaica, as well as of 
the ingenious conjectures of Major Rennell with regard to the Lake 
Tritonis and the Lesser Syrtis. 
It is well known that Tripoly, after the destruction of Carthage, 
became a Koman province ; and that on the conquest of a great part 
of Northern Africa by the Vandals, it passed into the hands of those 
barbarians, from which it was rescued, in the reign of Justinian, by 
the valour and abilities of Belisarius. The rapid and extraordinary 
progress of Mahometanism, soon after the death of its founder, 
involved Tripoly, together with the whole of Northern Africa, in 
the general wreck of civilization and Christianity : since that period 
it has remained, with few exceptions, in the hands of its Moslem 
conquerors, passing successively from the government of the Caliphs 
to the tyranny of Morocco, Fez, Tunis, and the Porte. After 
the erection of the walls of the town, already mentioned as the 
work of Dragut, Tripoly became the secure resort of most of the 
Corsairs who roved under Turkish colours ; and from that port they 
continually make attacks and descents on the opposite shores of the 
Mediterranean. 
After the death of Dragut, the Porte continued to send Governors 
to Tripoly under the titles of Sangiac and Bashaw ; and the castle 
was garrisoned by Turkish troops while the Moors inhabited the city. 
At length, in the year 1714, it was finally rescued from the oppression 
of the Turks by the great-grandfather of the reigning Bashaw ; who, 
having contrived to assassinate the whole of the garrison, took the 
reins of government into his own hands, and obtained the title of 
