Lelmis, Galati, Bur Durdubo, and Bur Galambaladi to Bender Ziada. As a result of the Treaty of 1915 and the Colonial rearrangements consequent on the war, Britain has granted Italy territories on the right bank of the Juba with the port of Kismayu. This district is called Transjuba, and has an area of 33,000 sq. miles and a population officially estimated at 12,000. [See map in this volume.] Italian Somaliland comprises (I.) The Protectorates, viz.—(1) The Sultanate of the Mijertins (Sultan Osman Mahmud), from Bender Ziade, the most northerly point belonging to Italy on the Gulf of Aden, to Cape Gabbee on the Indian Ocean (8° 13′ N. lat.), with an Italian Commissioner, resident at Alula (the capital of the Sultanate is Bergal); (2) the territory of the Nogal, from Cape Gabbee to Cape Garad (6° 47' N. lat.), formerly occupied by the Mad Mullah; (3) the Sultanate of Obbia (Sultan Ali Jusuf), from Cape Garad to the northern boundary of the colony of Benadir, determined by a line which ends at the sea near the wells of El Gabobe (about 4° 30′ N. lat.), with an Italian Commissioner resident at Obbia, capital of the Sultanate. (II.) The Colony formerly called Benadir but now officially known as Southern Italian Somaliland,' which extends from 4° 30° N. lat. to the mouth of the Juba, and comprises the following three administrative divisions:(1) the frontier region, with a Commissioner resident at Oddur (2,000 inhabitants), who deals with all questions concerning the frontier, (2) the Juba region, with Brava (8.000) as capital, and (3) Webi Shebeli, with Mahaddei (2,000) as capital. Mogadiscio (population 20,700), capital of the Colony, with its territory, has been placed under the direct dependence of the Governor. The Colony is administered by a civil governor who resides at Mogadiscio. He is assisted by a Secretary-General for civil and political affairs. The currency is the Italian rupee (silver coins and currency notes issued by the Banca d'Italia) of the value of 15 rupees to the 17. sterling. The principal occupations of the people are cattle-rearing and agriculture. In Southern Somaliland the whole country near the banks of the Webi Shebele is inhabited and cultivated by the natives, particularly in the districts of Gheledi, Mobilen and Bar Acaba. In Northern Somaliland agriculture is almost unknown: the Mijertins rear camels and sheep. Exports (1923) were 2.235,806 lire; imports. 52,937,929 re. Imports are cottons, sugar, rice, tea, coffee, yarn, timber; exports, dura, sesame, gum, hides, butter, cotton. Length of reads 1.135 miles steamship service on the Juba River from Kismayn to Barders. In 1923, 131 steamers and 388 sailing vessels entered and cleared the ports of the colony. Military force, 56 (Italian) officers and 2,500 (coloured) men. A detachment of the Flying Corps has recently been added. Governor.-Cesare de Vecchi (1923) The budget of Italian Somaliland for the year 1924-25 is as follows: Revenue proper of the colony, 2.837,000 re: State contilation, $.949,000 fire; extraordinary revenue, 12.500.000 Size: tocal 34,306,000 line. Civil expenditure, 8,020,301 lire: mintary, 3.396,250 fire; extraordinary expenditure. 19.900.448 Gre; tocal, 24.306.000 Gre Thirteen wireless telegraph stations are working in the Colony connecting the principal coast and inland towns The wireless station al Mogadiscio communicates with Italy, via Yassavi There are in the Colony 5 principal post offices Mogadiscio, Merra. Brava, Battva, and Mahaddet, and 19 leea post offers a Mogadiscio to A qui 18 miles). The construction of the Afrol to Bandoa has been started var runs from way ine frem Tripolitania and Cyrenaica. (LIBIA ITALIANA.) The Italian Libia lies along the north coast of Africa between Tunis on the west and Egypt on the east, in longitude from about 9° to 25° east. extreme northerly point of Libia is at about the parallel of latitude 33° north; the southernmost point is unknown, as the territory runs into the unmapped Sahara indefinitely. According to an arrangement with France (September 12, 1919) as a result of the Treaty of 1915, the western frontier extends in a curve from west of Ghadames to south of Tummo including Ghat. On the Egyptian frontier Italy has obtained Jaraboob from Britain. Tripoli fell under Turkish domination in the sixteenth century, and though, in 1714, the Arab population secured some measure of independence, the country was in 1835 proclaimed a Turkish vilayet. In September, 1911, a quarrel broke out between Turkey and Italy, and the latter invaded Tripoli and established an army there. On November 5, 1911, a decree was issued annexing Tripoli, and on February 23, 1912, the Italian Chamber passed the Bill which ratified the decree of annexation. The war, nevertheless, continued until October 18, 1912, when the Treaty of Ouchy was signed, by which the sovereignty of Italy in Tripoli was established. This has been recognised by the Great Powers. For administrative and military purposes the country is divided (decree of May 17, 1919) into two independent districts, Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, with their respective capitals at Tripoli and Bengazi, both under the jurisdiction of the Italian Minister of Colonies. TRIPOLITANIA. Governor.-Giuseppe Volpi (1921). Area and Population. The area of the territory is estimated at about 350,000 square miles. According to a census taken on December 1, 1921, there were about 550,000 natives. This census gave the European population of Tripolitania as 20,716 (18,093 Italians). It is estimated that of the total population of Italian Libya, 30 per cent. are Arabs, 40 per cent. Negroes, 23 per cent. Jews, and about 7 per cent. Europeans. Arabic is generally spoken, and both Italian and Arabic are the official languages. The principal towns of Tripolitania are on the coast: Tripoli with 60,000 inhabitants, Misurata with 14,000, and Homs with 4,000; inland are the caravan halting places, Ghadames, Murzûk, and Ghat. Justice. In both districts justice, in so far as personal status or family or succession matters are concerned, is administered by Mahommedan or rabbinic tribunals for native Mahommedans or Jews according to their own religious law, and by regional tribunals according to Italian law in civil and commercial matters, whether the parties concerned be Italians, strangers or natives. Criminal cases are tried by the regional tribunals with the assistance of two assessors, one of whom must be a Mussulman when the accused is a native Mussulman. More serious penal cases are tried by the Court of As-ize, consisting of the President of the Court of Appeal with four assessors, two of whom must be Mahommedans when the accused belong to that religion. Appeals in both the districts, whether in civil or in criminal cases, are heard by the Court of Appeal for Libia, which was instituted in December, 1912, with its seat at Tripoli. There is a final appeal to the Supreme Court of Cassation at Rome. Finance.-For the financial year 1924-25 the revenue and expenditure were estimated at: Colonial revenue, 146,841,000 lire; civil expenditure, 34,477,500 lire; military expenditure, 112,364,600 lire. Defence.-The military force in Tripolitania consists of 498 officers and 16,363 men (12,027 natives and 4,336 Italians). Production and Industry.-Tripolitania has four zones, the first of which, along the sea, is covered with palm, olive, lemon, and fruit trees. The second is formed by the highlands of Gebel and Tarhuna; the former has olive groves and palm and fig trees, while cereals and saffron are also grown. The country, however, is rather barren. The Tarhuna land is rich in esparto grass. The rest of the second zone, which includes the hills of Mesellata and Kussabat, as well as numerous valleys, is most fertile, and olive trees are abundant. The third zone consists chiefly of oases and is rich in palms. The oases (of which Ghadames, Socna, Sebka, and Murzuk are the most important) are some distance apart, and are covered with palms, figs, vines, and almonds. Commerce. There is a considerable caravan trade between Tripoli and Central Sudan when the routes are free from raiders. An important article of trade is ostrich feathers, which are brought overland from Central Africa, and exported to Paris and London from Tripoli to the value of 40,000l. to 50,000l. annually. The trade of Tripolitania was: Imports, 1921, 105,927,979 lire; 1922, 92,608,000 lire; exports, 1921, 17,571,852 lire; 1922, 13,654,417 lire. In 1923 Tripolitania exported 93,4861. to the United Kingdom, and imported 114,8937. Sponge-fishing was started in 1885. In good years the returns from the industry amount to some 2,000,000 lire (80,0007) out of a total of 10,000,000 lire (400,000) for the whole Mediterranean. The two fishing seasons in Libia are from November to February, and from March to October, the latter being the more important. During the summer season, 1922, 5 boats engaged in fishing from Tripolitania; the sponges collected totalled 6,218 kilos; 543,227 kilos of tunny fish were also caught in 1922, Communications.-The principal means of communication inland are the caravans which follow long-frequented routes. Tripoli (town) is connected by telegraph cable with Malta, and by land lines with Bengardane (Tunis). In 1912 an Italian cable was laid between Syracuse and Tripoli. Total length of railways, 140 miles. The principal lines in Tripolitania are a line 75 miles long, along the coast, from Tripoli to Zuara; one 12 miles long, from Tripoli to Tagiura; and one 31 miles long, from Tripoli to Azizia. There are fortnightly steamship sailings from Tripoli to Naples, from Tripoli to Syracuse, and from Tripoli along the coast. In Tripolitania, during the year ending June 30, 1924, 207,122 registered letters were received and 222,829 despatched; 9,612 insured letters received and 9,561 despatched; 41,021 parcels received and 41,367 despatched. Deposits in savings bank, 8.050,437 lire; number of telegrams despatched, 147,998; number received, 131,826. Banking and Currency.-The Banca d'Italia, the Banco di Sicilia, the Banco di Napoli, the Banco di Roma and other banks carry on financial operations. The official currency is the Italian, but English pounds and francs are also used in commercial transactions. There is a British Vice-Consul at Homs. CYRENAICA. Governor.-General Ernesto Mombelli (May 4, 1924). Area and Population. The area of the territory is estimated at about 230,000 square miles. According to a census taken on December 1, 1921, there were about 220,000 natives. This census gave the European population of Cyrenaica as 9,719 (9,402 Italians). The principal town is Benghazi with 30,000 inhabitants. Justice. For details as to the Administration of Justice, see above under Tripolitania. Finance.--For the financial year 1923-24 the revenue and expenditure of Cyrenaica were estimated at: Colonial revenue, 111,905,600 lire; civil expenditure, 42, 625, 600 lire; military expenditure, 69,281,000 lire. Defence. The military force in Cyrenaica consists of 197 officers and 9,679 men (5,570 natives and 4,109 Italians). Production and Industry.-In Cyrenaica olives and cypresses predominate. Pasturage is abundant and cattle could be bred on a vast scale. Bananas are grown at Derna. Barley is the chief food of the people. In 1922-23 about 285,750 acres were sown with barley, and 25,625 acres with wheat. Commerce. There is a considerable caravan trade between Benghazi and Wadai when the routes are free from raiders. Ostrich feathers are exported to Paris and London from Benghazi annually to the value of £20,000. The trade of Cyrenaica was (1922): Imports, 76,049,886 lire; exports, 9,776,563 lire. Communications.-The principal means of communication inland are the caravans which follow long-frequented routes. In 1912 an Italian cable was laid between Syracuse and Benghazi. A railway line 20 miles long runs from Benghazi inland. In Cyrenaica the telegraph and telephone lines have a length of about 372 miles. During the year ending June 30, 1922, 50,854 registered letters were received and 52,507 letters despatched; 3,326 insured letters received and 4,074 despatched; 19,055 parcels received and 2,763 despatched. Deposits in savings bank, 4,929,839 lire; number of telegrams despatched, 156,412; number received, 150,303. Banking and Currency.—The Banca d'Italia and the Banco di Roma carry on financial operations. There is a British Consul at Benghazi. Concession of Tientsin.-The Italian concession of Tientsin, under the agreement with China of June 7, 1902, lies on the left bank of the Peiho and has an area of about half a square kilometer with a population of 10,017 (Chinese, 9,887; Italians, 51; other Europeans, 79) in 1915. It contains a village and salt-pits. Revenue 1915-16, 433,532 lire; expenditure, 513,002 lire. Aegean Islands.-During the war with Turkey in 1912, Italy occu pied as base, the islands of Egeo, Rhodes and the other small islands of the Sporadi group (Stampalia, Scarpanto, Caso, Piscopi, Nisiro, Calimno, Liro, Patimo, Cos, Simi, Calchi and Lipso-the Dodecanese). The total population in 1917 was 100,198. Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning Italy. 1. OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. The Annuario Statistico Italiano (Annual), issued by the General Statistical Depart ment of the Ministry of National Economy, gives statistical information about Italy and its Colonies. The publications of the various Departments of Government: Agriculture; Industry, Commerce, and Labour; Public Works; Treasury; Finance; War; Marine; Interior; Public Instruction; Justice; Foreign Affairs; Post and Telegraphs; Colonies. Census publications are issued by the General Statistical Department of the Ministry of National Economy. Trentino and Alto Adigo. (Handbooks prepared by the Historical Section of the Foreign Office.) London, 1920. 2. NON-OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS.-ITALY. Annuario statistico delle Citta' italiane. Annual. Florence (1st issue 1909). L'Economia Italiana, nel suo divenire durante l'ultimo venticinquennio e nelle sue condizione attuali. 2 vols. Milan, 1921. Baccaglini (A.), La legislazione italiana sul credito agrario. Roma, 1911. Baedeker's Northern Italy, 14th ed., Leipzig, 1913; Central Italy and Rome, 15th ed., Borghese (G.), L'Italie moderne. Paris, 1913. Buchan (J.), Editor, Italy (The Nations of to-day). London, 1923. Cesaresco (Countess Martenengo), The Liberation of Italy. London, 1894.-Cavour. London, 1898.-Lombard Studies. London, 1902. Cinquanta anni di vita italiana-pubblicazione fatta sotto gli auspici del Governo per cura della R. Accademia dei Lincei. 2 vol. Milano, 1911. Cooper (C. 8.), Understanding Italy. London, 1923. Corradini (E.), Sopra le vie del nuovo Impero. Milan, 1912.-I Nazionalismo Italiano. Milan, 1914. Dauzat (A.), L'Italie nouvelle. Paris, 1909. Debidour (A.), Formation de l'Unité Italienne, vol. xi. of Histoire Générale. Paris, 1899. Deecke (W.), Italy: A Popular Account of the Country, its People, and its Institutions (including Malta and Sardinia). Eng. Trans. London, 1904. Duffy (Bella), The Tuscan Republics. [In 'Story of the Nations' series.] London, 1892. Gifford (A.H.), New Italy. Boston, 1909. Gini (C.), L'ammontare e la composizione della ricchezza delle Nazioni. Torino, 1914. Gorgolini (P.), The Fascist Movement in Italian Life. London, 1923. Gregorovius (Ferdinand). Geschichte der Stadt Rom im Mittelalter. 4th edition. 4 vols, Stuttgart, 1886. English Translation by Mrs. A. Hamilton. Vols. I.-VIII. London, 1902. Hartmann (Ludo M.), Hundert Jahre Italienischer Geschichte. Munich, 1916. Jamison (E. M.) and others. Italy, Medieval and Modern. Oxford and London, 1917. |