The water in general has a mineral taste; yet some of the springs are pure; but the favourite beverage consists of a liquor which the date tree, like the palm, affords. At first it possesses the mild flavour and cooling quality of orgeat; but acquires, when fermented, an acescent taste and intoxicating strength that are still more highly valued.
To the palm the loss of so large a proportion of its sap is generally fatal; but the hardier date tree recovers from its wound, and in the course of two or three years regains its former health.
In their Religion the people of Fezzan are rigid Mahometans; not intolerant to the opinions of others, but strict and superstitious in the observance of their own.
The Government of Fezzan is purely monarchical; but its powers, which seem to be restricted by the influence of opinion, are administered with such paternal regard to the happiness of the people, the rights of property are so much revered, the taxes are so moderate, and the course of justice is directed by so firm, and yet so temperate a hand, that the inhabitants of Fezzan (as far as a judgment can be formed from the feelings of those who travelled with Mr. Lucas) are affectionately and ardently attached to their Sovereign.[6]
The present King, Mohammed Ben Mohammed, is descended from one of the Shereefs of Tafilet, in the kingdom of Morrocco, who was related to the Regal Family of that empire, and who, about 400 years since, obtained possession of the Crown of Fezzan.
From that period to the middle of the present century, the kingdom maintained its Independence; but at the latter æra, the Bashaw of Tripoli invaded it with a powerful force, laid siege to the capital, defeated, and took captive the King, and carried him a prisoner to Tripoli. For two years the unfortunate Monarch was detained in bondage, but at the end of that period, on the condition of an annual tribute of fifty slaves and ten pounds of gold dust, the Bashaw restored him to his Crown.
Till the accession of the present King of Fezzan, this tribute was faithfully transmitted; but the reigning Sovereign, conscious of the declining power of Tripoli, and of the internal strength which the affection and confidence of his people had given to his Kingdom, has gradually diminished the amount, and altered the nature of the acknowledgement; for it now consists in an occasional present of a few slaves, and of a pound or two of gold dust, and is rather the compliment of a trading State to the Kingdom in which its principal commodities are sold, than a proof of political dependence. Still, however, the expression of my Kingdom of Fezzan is in frequent use with the reigning Bashaw of Tripoli, who is the grandson of the Conqueror; nor has the dependence of the former State on the latter been ever directly renounced.[7]
In Fezzan, as in all the Countries in which the Mahometan Faith is established, the descendants of the Prophet are considered as a distinct and highly privileged order. Their property is sacred; their persons are inviolable; and while the colour of their turbans, and the revered title of Shereef, announce to the people the august dignity which they bear, they derive from the hereditary nature of their privileges a high degree of permanent influence, and sometimes of dangerous power.[8]
Among the privileges of their rank may be numbered an exemption from certain punishments, and that sort of general indulgence which the prevalent dread of shedding the blood of the Prophet unavoidably creates.
To these circumstances of distinction it is owing that, like the Nobility of other States, they are sometimes subjected to, and feel a particular apprehension of the penalty of dishonour, especially of that of having dust thrown upon their heads.