y, in
population and natural features.

Sharkeeah, besides some insignificant places, includes the interesting
ancient capital called Zoueelah, whence the name of Zoilah is given by
the Tibboos to all Fezzan. Half the population of this place consists of
Shereefs, and there are indeed great and increasing numbers of this
class of persons throughout the whole country.

Ghatroun includes, with Tajerby the most southern place of Fezzan, three
small towns. The inhabitants are all black, speaking the Tibbooese and
Bornouese languages, and very little Arabic. The other nine districts
above enumerated contain a mixed race, like the population of Mourzuk;
but some of the northern towns are inhabited by people of purer blood,
with comparatively fair complexions.

Mourzuk itself, the seat of the Pashalic,--distant about four hundred
and twenty miles from Tripoli, in a straight line, and five hundred,
counting the sinuosities of the road, _via_ Benioleed, Bonjem, and
Sockna,--is a rising town, becoming daily more salubrious by the
improvements made since the residence of the Turks here, and the
subjection of the inhabitants to a more orderly and powerful government
than they had been accustomed to. The British Consul, Mr. Gagliuffi, has
rendered important aid to the administration, in embellishing the
appearance of Mourzuk, and giving it the air and character of a Turkish
city of the coast. Our camel-drivers pretend that it is already superior
to Tripoli. At the Consul's suggestion a colonnade has been built in the
main street, in front of the shops, affording shelter from the fiery
rays of the summer sun, as well as being an agreeable place for the
natives to lounge under and make their purchases. He was also the
principal promoter of the erection of new barracks for the troops, and
the appropriation of a large house as a hospital for the poor. His last
improvement is the plantation of a garden of the choice fruit-trees and
vegetables of the coast; and his example has been imitated by the Bim
Bashaw, commandant of the troops, who is now laying out a garden in a
conspicuous part of the city.

Since the departure of Abd-el-Galeel with his Arab followers, the Walad
Suleiman, for the neighbourhood of Bornou, the province of Fezzan has
certainly enjoyed profound tranquillity. But on account of heavy
taxation, high customs' dues, and other clogs to free commerce, the
people are sinking deeper and deeper into poverty and wretchednes