Notes of the Day.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3612, 27 August 1912, Page 4

Notes of the Day.

THE “BONE” TURKEY AND ITALY ARE FIGHTING OYER

Some very interesting particulars, from an economic point of view, as regards Tripoli, the ownership o» which is the main hone of contention between Turkey' and Italy, appear in the “Geographical Journal.” “Tripoli”, it is stated, is not a geographical unit, but consists of several regions which differ in many important respects the one from the other. 'J’hese different countries are: Tripoli proper. the Tableland of Cyrenaiea. and Fezzan, a collection of oases separated from the coast region hv the stony desert. At Tripoli, from the coast inwards, to a distance of forty to eighty miles, runs a nlain, called Jefara, which lias ali the characters of a steppe. Only a small strip of land along the coast combines a sufficient rainfall with sufficient fertility to enable it to support vegetation. This cultivated strip is about three miles wide, and is called the Meeehia. Ihe rest of the plain is covered by dunes; between the dunes are camel pastures, and very few patches of cultivated land- The plain is intersected by wadis, or river courses; the direction of these wadis is from south to north. Some of the mountain regions—which are at distances forty to eighty miles from the coast- —are "well cultivated with fig and olive trees, vines, and corn. The esparto grass is brought to Tripoli from the mountains. At the southern border of the Hamacla begins the land of Fezzan, a collection of oases. Fezzun is intersected by wadis, which have a course from west to east. The land does not possess pasture grounds large enough for its needs, and this compels the inhabitants to drive their cattle to pasture in the steppes of the great Syrtis. The fruits of the date palms they sell to the Bedouins, who come at the end of tlie summer, bringing in exchange corn and barley. The resources of the laud are not large enough to supjKirt its inhabitants. The prospects of Tripoli in the future depend solely on agriculture. No doubt- something tould be done by an -enlightened administration to increase the fertility of the soil. But much capital would be required for construction of artesian wells and irrigation works. Some scientists hold that the present miserable conditions of the country are due to climatic changes; further, it is obvious to the most casual observer, that the migrating dunes which have boon allowed to invade the Jafava are a .serious hindrance to any agricultural undertaking. Tripoli is known only in its broader features, and we may still class some parts of Fezzan and of Cyrcnaica amongst the unknown lands of Africa.”