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course, has been the object of several adventurous travellers, but hitherto without success. By some the Niger is supposed either to be absorbed in the sands of Africa, or to lose itself in the lakes Wangara and Ghana; others think that it joins the Nile; while others maintain that it runs southwards, and, hav. ing united with the Congo, flows into the Atlantic.

The Senegal also rises in the mountains of Kong, and flows N. W. into the Atlantic.

The Gambia rises in the same mountains, and flows N. W. into the Atlantic.

The Zaire or Congo is the largest African river S. of the Equator. Its source is not known, but it flows into the Atlantic.

The Orange river rises nearly at the north eastern extremity of the colony of the Cape in South Africa, and flows westward till it falls into the Atlantic.

Climate. In a region of such vast extent it must be expected that the climate should be considerably diversified; but it may be characterized generally as hot and sultry. Most of this country is situated within the tropics it being nearly equally divided by the equator. In the southern districts it is more temperate than in the other parts, and even agreeable in the mornings and evenings. In the North, though sultry, it is not unsuited to Europeans; it is refreshed by the sea breezes along the coast, and is still more temperate adjacent to the mountains.

Productions. The soil in many places is very fertile, and might, if properly cultivated, and the arts of civil life introduced among the natives, prove of great advantage to the commerce of Europe. The Booba or Calabash tree possesses extraordinary dimensions. Some have been found about 70 feet in circumference, with branches extending horizontally in every direction, and as large as the trunk of ordinary trees. The height is somewhat disproportioned, being generally from 60 to 70 feet. The Mangrove, and vegetable butter trees are also found in this country. The mineral productions are said to be valuable, but they are very imperfectly known.

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Animals. The animal creation claims an almost prescriptive right in many tracts of this continent. The Lion, the Panther the Leopard, and the Hyæna, roam through the African forests. Baboons and Monkeys are found in many parts, and Crocodiles and Hippopotami abound in the great rivers. The Zebra, and the Quagga are met with; and in the northern parts, the common Horse, and the wild Ass. The Dromedary is the most important domesticated quadruped, and is called, emphatically, by the natives the ship of the desert. The reptiles and insects are very numerous.

Inhabitants. So great a continent must of course have numerous races by whom it is inhabited; but there are two who seem to divide between them a very extensive portion. These are the Moors and Negroes. The appellation of Moors is used in a very vague manner; but the basis of the population so called seems to consist of foreign invaders or settlers, chiefly from Western Asia, who ever since the Saracen invasion, have pressed hard upon the native tribes. The boundary formed by the rivers Senegal and Niger, and the mountains of the Moon, may be considered generally as a line of separation between these two races; though for a certain space on each side they are mixed.

Africa to the north of this line is ruled by the Moors, or other foreign races, who have forcibly occupied the fertile regions, while to the south is the native population, for it has lost all traces of its Asiatic derivation. The Moorish character is generally described in very unfavourable colours. Rude and roaming habits, a dark and ferocious superstition, and a barbarism which has no tincture of simplicity, are represented as forming its prominent features. To every European visitor in particular, the Moors have been found irreconcileable enemies. Their colour is tawny and sunburnt, but makes no approach to the deep black, which forms the complexion of almost all the native races of this continent. Jews exist in great numbers in all the cities of Barbary. The country districts are occupied by the Arabs who reside in moveable villages, consisting of tents woven of camel's hair and the fibres of the Palm-tree. They are of a deep brown, or copper colour, and

tattoo themselves. Their internal government is administered by patriarchal chiefs, who pay tribute to the Moorish sovereigns. The inhabitants of Egypt are chiefly foreigners. There is only one native race, the Copts, who are the descendants of the most ancient inhabitants. Their colour is dusky yellow. The Coptic females are generally elegant and interesting. The Negroes are distinguished from the Moors, not more by their features and colour, than by their general character and habits of life. They possess less activity, information, and vigour of mind; but they redeem these defects by many amiable qualities. With the usual habits of barbarous life, they are simple, gentle, and hospitable; their domestic affections are warm; and their religion, has no tincture of intolerance. It is true, that if the traveller has nothing to fear for his life, his property is not in equal security; but that propensity to thieving which is experienced by all Europeans, does not prevail to the same extent in their intercourse among themselves.

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION.

1. How is Africa bounded? 2. What is its extent? Mention its length and breadth. 3. How is this country divided? 4. Mention the states of North Africa, with their chief towns, and point them out upon the map. How are the Barbary States bounded? Mention their length and breadth. What do these states comprehend?--What did they anciently form? What does Morocco comprise ? Where does Algiers lie? What is the character of the Algerines? What took place in 1815, under Lord Exmouth? Where is Tunis situated, and what did it formerly constitute? What was Carthage formerly? What remains of it now? Who died at Utica? What is the extent of Tripoli? What does it include? How is Egypt bounded? Mention its length and breadth. How is it divided?What cities does Lower Egypt contain? Upper Egypt? What renders Egypt extremely fertile? What is said of Cairo? Of the Pyramids? Of Alexandria? When and by whom is its library said to have been burnt? What remark did Omar make on the occa sion? What places have been successively the capitals of Egypt? How is Egypt governed? What took place in the bay of Aboukir? 5. Mention the states of Eastern Africa, with their chief towns, and

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point them out upon the map. How is Nubia bounded? Which are its chief states? Where is Abyssinia situated? What is Adel? Ajan? Where have the Portuguese several settlements? What is said of Mocaranga? Which are said to be its dependencies ?--What do the countries on the eastern coast produce? 6. Name the states of Southern Africa, with their chief towns, and point them out upon the map. What does the Colony of the Cape include?— To whom does it belong? What is said respecting its climate?— Where does the country of the Hottentots lie? What is the extent of Caffraria? What did it formerly include? 7. Mention the states of Western Africa, with their chief towns, and point them out upon the map. How is Guinea generally divided? What is said of the Ashantees? What is Sierra Leone? What does Senegambia include? Of what do the natives consist? What is said of the Foulahs? The Mandingoes? 8. What does Central Africa comprise? Mention its states, with their chief towns, and point them out upon the map. What is said of Sahara? Nigritia? Tombuctoo? Haoussa? Bornou? 9. Mention the Islands. What is said of the Azores? To whom do they belong? How many of the Canary islands are there, and which is the principal? What is said of Ferro? Of St. Helena? Which is the largest African island? Mention its length and breadth. 10. Mention the Capes. 11. The Gulfs and Bays. 12. The Straits. 13. The Mountains. 14. The Rivers. Trace upon the map the course of the rivers mentioned in the small type.

AMERICA.

1. BOUNDARIES.-America is bounded on the north by the Northern Ocean; on the east by the Atlantic; on the south by the Southern Ocean; and on the west by the Pacific.

2. EXTENT.-It extends, exclusive of Greenland, from 73° N. to 56° S. latitude; and from 35° to 167° W. longitude; being nearly 9,000 miles long and 3,000 broad.

3. DIVISIONS.-America is divided into two great portions, called North and South America, which are joined together by the isthmus of Darien.

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION.

1. How is America bounded, &c. ?

NORTH AMERICA.

1. BOUNDARIES.-North America is bounded on the north by the Northern Ocean; on the east by the North Atlantic; on the south by South America and the Pacific; and on the west by the North Pacific.

2. EXTENT. It extends from 89 to 73° N. latitude; and from 56° to 167° W. longitude: being about 4,500 miles long and 3,000 broad.

3. DIVISIONS.-North America may be comprehended under the six following divisions :

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4. ISLANDS.-Melville and Bathurst north, and Newfoundland, Cape Breton, and St. John's east of British America; the Bermudas in the Atlantic, and Vancouvre's, Queen Charlotte's, and several other islands on the west coast.

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