Illustrated Gazetteer of the Maritime Kingdoms, Vol. 18

The laws and customs of these foreign peoples are gradually becoming respectable. The territory encompasses 75,000 square li a Chinese unit of distance; 75,000 square li is roughly 11,000 square miles, with a population of two million households. It governs twenty-one small tribes. The local products include velvet, silk, serge original: 嗶嘰 (biji), a durable woolen fabric, and foreign felt.

The country of Tripoli original: 特黎波里 (Teliboli) is situated to the south of Morocco original: 摩羅果 (Moluoguo). To its east, it borders Egypt original: 伊揖 (Yiyi); to its south lies the desert; to its west, it borders Tunis original: 都尼司 (Dunisi) also known as the border of the ancient Kingdom of Fusha; and to its north, it is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea.

The interior of the territory is largely mountainous, with fertile soil found only in the northern corners. Nevertheless, the local produce is insufficient to feed the population, who must rely on neighboring countries for their food supplies.

The people were initially misled by the Islamic original: 回教 (Huijiao) religion of the Arabs original: 阿丹 (Adan); subsequently, they suffered under the tyranny of the garrisoned troops from Turkey the Ottoman Empire; original: 都魯機 (Duluji).

Later, there was a Pasha a high-ranking governor or official in the Ottoman Empire original: 巴札 (Bazha) named Hamid original: 哈彌 (Hami), likely referring to Ahmed Karamanli who devised a stratagem. He prepared a grand banquet and invited three hundred military officers to a gathering. He had hidden warriors lying in ambush, who then captured, bound, and executed the officers, while also slaughtering their entire military faction.

He then established himself as king, maintaining the capital at Tripoli. Because Turkey was in a state of decline and weakness, it was unable to send a military expedition to reclaim the territory. From that time forward, the region was no longer subject to Turkey. Hamid disciplined his troops, brought an end to oppressive practices, relieved the hardships of the people, and actively encouraged trade and settlement...