1032
ITALY
Commerce. — There is a considerable caravan trade between Benghazi and Wadai and 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 10 the value of 50,000/. annually, and 20,0002. from Benghazi.
Imports and exports for 5 years : —
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
Imports Exports
£ £
2,004,730 ' 1,161,327
212,073 1 93,429
£
2,416,964 208,791
£ £
3,939,402 i 3,900,000 300,309 3,255
Sponge fishing was started in 1885. In good years the returns from the industry amount to some 2, 000, 000 lire (£80,000) 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 year 1919-20 33 boats engaged in fishing ; the sponges collected totalled 32,000 kilos, valued at 2,500,000 lire.
In 1917, 4,527 steamers with a tonnage of 2,831,167 entered and cleared at the ports of Libia ; in 1914, there were 8,203 steamers of 6,446,377 tons.
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 Gabes (Tunis). In 1912 two Italian cables were laid, one between Syracuse and Tripoli, and the other between Syracuse and Benghazi.
Total length of railways, 157 miles. The principal lines in Tripolitania are : a line 53 miles in length, running from the coast to Hensair el Abiat ; another, 75 miles long, along the coast, from Tripoli to Xuaia ; and a third, 12 miles long, from Tripoli to Taginra. In Cyrenaica a line 20 miles long runs from Benghazi inland. In both districts some 600 miles of line are in operation.
In 1918, 57,597 parcels were sent and 105,381 received through the parcel post. The postal savings bank had deposits to the value of 379,964/. and withdrawals of 314,479/., leaving a balance of 65,485/.
Banking and Currency The Banca d'ltalia, the Banco di Si< ili.'i,
the Banco di Napoli, the Banco di Roma and other banks cany on financial operations.
There is a British Consul at Benghazi, and a Vice-Consul at Horns.
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 Europeaus, 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 (Stanipoiia, Scarpantn, < ,iso, Piscopi, Nisiro, Colimuo, Liro, Patino, Cos, Simi, Calchi aud Lipso— the Dodecanese). The total
