HISTORIC TRIPOLI

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 December 1942, Page 4

HISTORIC TRIPOLI

CHIEF PORT OF LIBYA SHELTERED HARBOUR. FORMERLY NEST OF PIRATES. Tripoli, the capital and chief port of Libya, is the ancient Oea of the Phoenicians. Oea stood between Sabrata and Leptis Magna and the Greeks named it Tripolis—the "three cities.” The historical and beautiful city stands on a promontory that forms-a small crescent-shaoed bay which shelters the harbour from the north winds. The harbour, which covers an area of 1200 acres, has been dredged to a depth to accommodate modern shipping and the quays are equipped with modern appliances. In the days of peace regu; lar shipping services linked Tripoli vzith Sicily, via Malta, and with Tunis and the ports of Libya as far as Tobruk. From Tripoli a railway runs westward some 75 miles to the port of Zuara. Another running eastward may now have reached the port of Homs. A third goes inland. Its terminus is not known, but the distance is not believed to be great. • Development bv the Italians, to whom the country was ceded by the Turks after the war of 1911, did not begin until some years after the termination of the World War. The Senussi, who with Turkish and German assistance revolted when Italy was fully occupied with the war in Europe, pinned the Italians to a few points on the coast. Voloi, .who became a count : “of Misurata,” restored order and General de Bono, who succeeded hiin as Governor, did not conclude his military operations until 1928. Motor roads rather than, railways .have been the product of Italian public Works policy, and Rommel’s retreat will be facilitated by the coastal system. Walls dating from the time of the Romans enclosed the city of, Tripoli. They have now been demolished, but. still in existence arc walls of the Byzantine period. The citadel, constructed in the time of- the Spanish occupation, is now the residence ot the Governor. , jt ~ The desert almost touches the city on its western side. On the east is the verdant oasis of Meshia . The asipect.of the city is picturesque. Houses, many possessing beautiful gardens, rise in terraces from the shore. The Turkish quarter contains many mosques whose minarets and cupolas break the monotony of flat-roofed white-washed houses. The Pasha mosque was originally a church built by the Spaniards. Many of the streets are arcaded. Near the port stands a Roman triumphal arch made entirely of white marble and richly embellished with sculpture. It was erected in A.D. 163. The modern part of the city, to the south-west of the ojd town, has a number of fine buildings, including a cathedral, along the new seafront. , •The Senussi. the Arab native people, are a fraternity or sect of the Moslems inspired with great missionary zeal. While other Dervish fraternities are mystical and latitudinarian in’theology mid only sporadically meddle in politics, the Senussi have exercised a distinct political influence and have sought to revive the faith and usages of the early days of Islam. Among them the use of tobacco and coffee is forbidden, but the drinking of tea is encouraged and the wearing of fine clothes is allowed. Before modern European encroachment, the Senussis encouraged colonisation and tiade. They dug wells, developed oases and built rest houses along the caravan routes " In tlic-lGth century Tripoli was given by Spain to the Knights of St. Jonn who' after 30 years were ousted by tne Arabs A Spanish effort to recapture it failed and thereafter it became a nest of pirates whose depredations continued to modern times.