the capital of the Bichuanas. In the year 1822, | by negroes. These, though inferior to the Arab Denham and Clapperton crossed the Sahara, tribes in arts and attainments, are generally civil, discovered lake Tchad, and traveled through gay, and hospitable; they wage constant war Bornou and the Foulah or Fellatah country. In against each other, and are cruel to their enemies, 1826, Laing penetrated to Timbuctoo. In 1830, exceedingly superstitious, believing in charms and Lander explored the Niger, and ascertained its witchcraft. They are of a deep black color, large outlet to be in the Bight of Benin. In 1844, flat noses, thick lips, and coarse black wooly hair. Duncan penetrated into the interior from the The Arabs are deeply browned by constant expoBight of Benin to lat. 13° 6' N., and long. 1° 3' E. sure to the sun, but their physical aspect is entirely In 1845-6, Richardson traversed a great portion different from that of the negroes. Cape Colony of the desert of Sahara; and the Rev. Mr. Reb- was originally inhabited by the Hottentots, who mann discovered a lofty mountain, covered with are now confined to the territory N. of the colony perpetual snow, in E. Africa, about 285 m. W. of on the Atlantic side, and extend northward to Mombas. In 1849, Mr. Livingston discovered a about lat. 24° S. The opposite coast E. of Cape large lake, called Uniamesi, in S. Africa. In 1850, Colony, as far N. as lat 20° S. is occupied by Dr. Knoblecher reached about lat. 4° N., on the the Kaffirs. White Nile. The political constitution is rude and generally despotic; the sovereigns having almost unlimited power, held in check only by the turbulence of the chiefs. The population is estimated variously at from 60,000,000 to 100,000,000. They are mostly in a state of barbarism. In ancient times the northern States, especially Egypt and Carthage. ranked among the most opulent, civilized, and enlightened nations then in existence. They have since relapsed into barbarism. Egypt is inhabited by Copts. W. of Egypt, and N. of Senegal, are the Arab races (the Moors, Berbers, Kabyles, &c.). These are a rough, roving race, living on the borders and in the oases of the great desert of Sahara; they keep large herds, chiefly of camels, on which they perform long journeys through the most desolate tracts. They are bigoted, expert thieves, and much dreaded by travelers. Central Africa, from Senegal S. to the country of the Hottentots and Kaffirs, is probably wholly inhabited Africa is the main seat of the slave trade. Other parts of the world have depended on its unfortunate inhabitants for their supply of slaves. Notwithstanding the efforts made for its suppression, this trade is still carried on. It has been calculated that about 110,000 slaves are shipped yearly from the S. parts of the W. coast, besides large numbers from other places. They are moved from place to place in caravans of from 100 to 3,000, comprising all ages, but chiefly boys and girls. The establishment of the Liberian republic has exterminated the trade for an extent of 600 m. along the W. coast, and it has been officially reported to the British Government that it has been suppressed on over 1,800 m. of the coast. Mountains.-The Mount Atlas range begins at Cape Geer, or Ghir, 100 W. long., and extends E. as far as 50 W. long., where it approaches 320 N. lat. A mountain, called Kilimandjaro, has been recently discovered in lat. 3° 40′ S., lon. 360 E., the height of which is estimated at 20,000 ft. The Desert of Sahara, whose full name is Sahara- | that the inhabitants venture to pass from one inbela-ma," the Desert without Water," sometimes habited spot to another. The wells are then full also called the Bahar-bela-ma, the "Ocean without if the rains have not fallen short of the usual Water," is a region of immense extent, occupying quanity. Though they occur only at great disthe central parts of Northern Africa. It ex- tances from each other, commonly ten or twelve tends eastward nearly across the whole continent days' journey, they afford the means of filling the of Africa, being separated from the Red Sea only water-skins with which such travelers are proby the valley of the Nile and the rocky country vided. If the rains have been scanty or the beyond it. Its length in this direction is not less weather unusually sultry, the wells are found dried than 2650 m. Its width is various. The widest up, and the travelers perish. A few months after part is between 0 and 100 E. lon., where the the rains, the hot wind which sweeps over these desert occupies nearly eighteen degrees of lat., or plains has dried up most of the wells and every about 1200 m. But farther to the east it narrows kind of moisture. This wind follows the diurnal at one place to 700 miles. It is certain that we course of the sun, blowing almost without interdo not overrate its extent by assigning it an area ruption from the east, in the daytime, frequently of 2,500,000 sq. m. with the violence of a gale, which however, is This immense region enjoys a smaller share of generally followed by a dead calm after sunset. the gifts of nature than any other known portion The strong wind moderates the heat of the burnof the globe. Soil and climate are unfavorable to ing sun, and hence the nights are usually more vegetation, and consequently afford very sparingly insupportable than the noonday heat. The violent the means of sustaining animal life. It is, how-gales frequently raise the loose sand in such quanever, not uniform in this respect. Near 150 E. tities that a layer of nearly equal portions of sand lon. the desert is crossed by a more favored and air, and rising about twenty feet above the tract, in which Fezzan is situated; a district surface of the ground, divides the purer atmosphere of which the soil at several places consists of from the solid earth. This sand when agitated clay capable of producing a kind of millet, and by whirlwinds sometimes burries caravans and where groves of date-trees are numerous. Between frequently puts them into the greatest confusion. Fezzan and Lake Tchad several stony ridges There are a few species of wild animals in these occur, at the bases of which wells are found, and wildernesses; lyons and panthers are met with in their neighborhood are some extensive planta- occasionally; they prey on the gazelles and antetions of date-trees, with pasture-grounds for cattle. lopes, which are found in the tracts overgrown But between them lie tracts, composed of loose with bushes; the first of these animals is rather sand, in which the camels sink nearly knee-deep, frequent. Ostriches are very numerous, and they and quite destitute of vegetation. Portions of are hunted by the natives in the months precedthis desert are visited by showers between the ing the rains for their feathers. months of August and October, when the sun is leaving the northern hemisphere. It is at this period of the year, and in the months which follow, This country has a coast line of more than 15,000 m. in length, and is nowhere deeply indented by bays and gulfs, excepting the gulf of Guinea on the W., or Atlantic shore. Besides this, the principal gulfs are, the gulf of Sidra on the N.; the Bights of Benin, and Biafra on the W.; Delgoa, and Soufala bays on the E.; and the gulf of Suez, and Abouka in the N. part of the Red sea. The island of Madagascar, about 1000 m. long, and 300 m. wide on the S. E. coast, is the largest of the islands adjacent to this continent; the others are small and few. The principal rivers are the Nile, Niger, Senegal, Gambia, Rio Grand, Congo, Coanza, Gariep or Orange and the Zambezi. The Nile is the longest, its length has not yet been ascertained, its sources being as yet unknown, but it is estimated at 2,800 m. long. It is partly formed by the confluence of the Bahr-el-abiad or White Nile and the Bahr-el-azrek or Blue Nile. It flows northward and through the richest and most populous part of Egypt, and discharges itself into the Mediterranean through innumerable mouths. The valley through which it flows is from 6 to 12 m. wide, and is rendered rich by its annual overflow. The Niger or Quorra R. is about 2,700 m. and the Senegal 1,200 m. long. The Tyambegi is 900 m. long, navigable for 200 or 300 m. from its mouth during the rainy season. Lake Tchad situated in the territory of Bornou and nearly in the center of the continent is the largest lake known. It is about 220 m. long and 80 m. broad, and is 850 ft. above the level of the sea. Instead of discharging its waters into the Niger or the Nile, as was supposed, Dr. Vogel recently ascertained that the rivers for many miles. around all run toward it. The lake is very shallow, and the greater portion of it is occupied by a vast labyrinth of small islands, inhabited by a tribe called Biddumas. Lakes are also met with among the ranges of the Atlas Mts., the largest of which is Lowdejah. To these may be added lake Uniamesi, the "Great Water," recently discovered in S. Africa. Minerals.-Gold, gold dust, and iron are generally diffused throughout Africa. The richest gold mine known is that of Natakoo—a small round hill, composed of unctuous argillaceous earth, situated on a plain about 300 ft. high, and 3,000 paces in circumference at the base. The gold is here found in the various forms of lumps, grains, and spangles. At a depth of 20 ft., lumps of pure gold, weighing from 2 to 10 grains, are found. Forty m. N. of Natakoo, are the gold mines of Semayla. The next richest gold mine in this region is that of Nambia. In a valley E. of the Rio d'Oro is the mine of Kombadyria. In this valley, the beds of the adjacent streams contain gold; and throughout this part of W. Africa the precious mineral is distributed over a surface of 1,200 sq. m. Large quantities of gold-dust are also found on the banks of the Barra, on the W. coast. Before being employed as an article of commerce, the gold ore and dust are melted down and manufactured into trinkets, never being of fered for sale except in a manufactured shape. Iron occurs in Morocco, Abyssina, Algeria, and in various mountainous districts of Central and S. Africa. Salt is found in great abundance throughout the greater part of Africa. Maganese is also common. Extensive deposits of the nitrates of potash and soda have recently been discovered in the neighborhood of Angra Pequena, on the W. coast of S. Africa. Copper ore is found a short distance beyond the Orange river; and lead of a superior kind exists near the mouth of the Van Staaden's river, in the district of the Uitenhage, in Cape Colony. Vegetation-The greater portion of Africa may be said to be wholly a palm region, excepting its | species, and 48 are peculiar: of the cheiroptera S. extremity. Along the Mediterranean, the veg- (bats), 30 species, and 26 peculiar; of the carnietation is luxuriant. Wheat and maize are culti-vora, 66 species, and 52 peculiar; of the rodentia vated; the olive, the orange, the castor-oil plant, the fig-tree, and the dwarf and the date palms, are plentiful. The lotus-tree is here so abundant, that its berries (which are still used as food) constituted formerly an important article of subsistence to some ancient tribes. South of the Atlas Mountains, dates are so abundant that the tract of land' is called the "Land of dates." Rice, maize, plantains, yams, manioc, pulse, and earthnuts are cultivated along the whole W. tropical coast. In Senegambia and Nubia, the baobab tree is found, and its fruit forms an important article of food for the natives. The acacia flourishes in the same region. Along the W. coast, and on Guinea coast are the Elacis Guineensis, from which palm-oil and wine are obtained; the cabbage palm, the wax palm, the Shea butter-tree, the African oak, and the mangrove; and of fruits, the banana, papaw, custard apple, lemon, orange, and tamerind. At the Cape of Good Hope, wheat and other cereals are cultivated. The vegetation of the E. coast is similar to that of the W.; and the cotton plant is very abundant. The Zoology of Africa is similar in many respects to that of Asia, while in the southern portions we find many European animals. As we recede from the regions which border on these two countries a marked peculiarity is discovered. Natnre has not been so prolific either in number or in the variety of form, in this continent as on others of similar extent, owing to the vast deserts, which abound, destitute of water and vegetation. There are 300 different species of mammals of which 242 are peculiar to the country. Of the quadrumana (apes, monkeys, etc.,) there are 55 (gnawing animals,) 48 species, and 38 peculiar; of the edentata (sloths, ant-eaters, etc.) 3 species, and all peculiar; of the pachydermata (hog, horse, elephant, etc.) 15 species, and 12 peculiar; of the ruminatia, 73 species, and 63 peculiar; of cetacea (whales,) 10 species, and 8 peculiar. The quadrupeds of burden are the camels (Arabian,) and the horses and asses of Barbary. Among the carnivorous and ferocious beasts, are the lion (of which there are three varieties-viz: the Barbary, the Senegal, and the Cape lions,) the leopard, panther, and hyena. Elephants are so numerous all over Africa, S. of the Sahara, that their tusks form a leading export. The hippopotami are peculiar to Africa, and are very numerous in the large rivers and lakes. There are at least 50 species of the antelope peculiar to Africa. Many of the birds are of the richest and gaudiest plumage. The ostrich is now almost exclusively confined to Africa. The crocodile is found in the rivers of the tropics; and lizards, serpents, and various species of voracious reptiles are in all parts. Locusts and ants are excessively abundant, and are the scourge of the country. The Climate of Africa is greatly diversified; its extensive arid plains, swamps, marshes, and the exhalations of a rank vegetation giving it a fatal variety. The S. and N. extremities, and the E. coast (with a few exceptions,) are sufficently healthy; but on the W. coast the heat is most intense and destructive to all, except the natives. Senegambia, between 100 and 110 N. lat., is, perhaps, the hottest place on the globe. The whole of the Gold coast is also extremely unhealthy, owing to the sudden extremes of heat and |