The Hottentots were long hunted down like beasts, employed as slaves, and treated as irreclaimable savages by the colonists; but recent attempts, made by missionaries to improve their condition, have been attended with complete success.

6. Colony of the Cape of Good Hope. This colony, originally founded by the Dutch, has long been in the possession of the English. It extends from 35° to 30° S. Lat., and from 18° to 28° E. Lon., having an area of about 120,000 square miles, with a population of 150,000 souls, including English and Dutch colonists, the free Hottentots, and the slaves of that race.

Capetown, the capital, is situated at the foot of Table Mountain, at the head of Table Bay upon the Atlantic, and but a short distance from False Bay upon the Southern Ocean; both bays, however, are much exposed, and the anchorage is unsafe. But its strong fortifications, and its central position between India and Europe, render it one of the most important military posts and commercial stations in the world. The town is regularly laid out, and the houses are built of brick or stone. There are here a botanical garden, a menagerie, a college, a public library, &c. Population 30,000, of which about 12,000 are slaves, as many Europeans, and the remainder free Hottentots. In the neighborhood is Constantia, noted for its wines.

7. Caffraria. This name is given by Europeans to an extensive region stretching along the eastern coast, and of which the interior is almost entirely unknown. The term Caffres, applied to the inhabitants of this region, is merely the Arabic designation signifying infidels, and was adopted by European navigators through ignorance.

The Caffres form a race entirely distinct from the negroes and Hottentots; they have a high nose, curly but not woolly hair, and a dark brown complexion; they are well formed, active, and warlike, and practice some of the mechanic arts with skill. The Coosas and the Betshuanas are the best-known tribes. In their habits some of the Caffres are a wandering, pastoral people, but many of them live in towns. Huts in the shape of beehives, plastered with clay, and covered with mats, form their fixed dwellings, and similar buildings, constructed of boughs and leaves, are their temporary abodes when following their cattle. Tattooing and staining the face are common among them, and their dress is merely a cloak and an apron of skin; their wealth is in their cattle. Their weapons are a spear, a club, arrows, and a shield of bull's hide. In disposition they are friendly, kind-hearted, and hospitable.

Leetakoo and Koorrechanee, with 16,000 inhabitants, are considerable Betshuana towns, the inhabitants of which work in metals, make various sorts of pottery, &c.

CXLVII. EASTERN AFRICA.

1. Boundaries, &c. This region lies between Abyssinia and Caffraria, extending from 12° N. to 20° S. Lat. A great part of it is very imperfectly known, and much of it is quite unexplored. The principal river is the Zambeze, of which the sources are unknown.

2. Portuguese Possessions. The Portuguese claim an indefinite extent of coast from the Bay of Lagoa to Cape Delgado, comprising the

regions usually called Sofala and Mozambique. The country, however, is inhabited by numerous Arab and Caffre tribes, who do not acknowledge their authority. Sofala is a petty village where the Portuguese have a military post; Mozambique is a considerable town with about 10,000 inhabitants, and is the chief commercial place on the coast.

3. Monomotapa. This empire was once a powerful state, but seems now to be divided into numerous distinct kingdoms. It lies behind the Portuguese possessions, but we are almost entirely ignorant of its inhabitants and condition.

4. Zanguebar. The coast to the north of Cape Delgado is vaguely termed the Zanguebar coast. It is well watered, fertile, and well timbered, and contains some excellent ports. Our knowledge of it is extremely imperfect. The principal states seem to be Quiloa, Mombasa, Melinda, and Magadoxo, so called by Europeans from their respective capitals, which are petty towns. The whole of this coast belongs to the imam of Mascat.

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5. Ajan and Adel. The coast from Zanguebar to Cape Guardafui bears the name of Ajan; it is dry, rocky, and barren. The want of harbors, the sterility of the country, and the fierceness of the natives have prevented it from being much frequented by traders.

North of this from the Cape to Abyssinia is Adel, which is inhabited by the Somaulis, who also occupy the coast of Ajan, and probably extensive regions of the interior. They are not negroes, but have long hair, and an olive or blackish complexion; and are probably either of the Caffre or Breber race. They have ships of their own, and are active, enterprising merchants.

Their chief towns are Berbera and Zeila, which carry on a trade with the natives of the unknown regions of the interior, and with the Arabs of the opposite shore.

CXLVIII. AFRICAN ISLANDS.

1. Socotra. Socotra, east of Cape Guardafui, is 85 miles long, by 48 broad. It is in general dry and stony, with little vegetation; but aloes of the best quality grows in the sheltered valleys, and abundance of excellent dates are produced. It is governed by a sheik who is dependent upon the imam of Mascat; the inhabitants are of Arabian extraction, but there is a barbarous tribe in the interior.

2. Madagascar. Madagascar is separated from the coast by a broad channel 220 miles wide. It is one of the largest islands in the world, being about 900 miles in length by 200 in breadth, and having an area of 200,000 square miles. It is traversed by a lofty chain of mountains, of which some of the summits have an elevation of 11,000 feet.

Madagascar is a pleasant and fertile country, abounding in sugar, honey, fruit-trees, valuable gums, corn, cattle, poultry, precious stones, iron, some silver, copper, and tin. It affords an agreeable variety of hills, valleys, woods, and plains: and it is watered by numerous rivers. The air is generally temperate, and said to be very healthy, though in a hot climate. Among the inhabitants are white and black tribes. The whites and those of a tawny complexion, who inhabit the coasts, are of Arabic origin. The great mass of the inhabitants called Made

cassees are of Malay extraction. There are some black tribes with woolly hair, who are either the aborigines, or are colonists from Africa.

Until 1828 the kingdom of Madagascar was a powerful state, which had reduced to subjection the greater part of the island; the prince was an intelligent man, who sought to civilize his subjects by inviting missionaries into the kingdom, and sending some young men into European countries to be educated. He had also introduced horses and fire-arms into his army, which was organized on the European model. But he was unfortunately poisoned by his queen, and his death was a signal for insurrection and civil war.

3. Comoro Isles, &c. This group, lying north of the Mozambique Channel, comprises four principal islands, formerly populous and flourishing, but now rendered almost desolate by the piratical incursions of Madecassee pirates, who have carried off great numbers of the inhabitants as slaves.

Admiralty Isles, to the northeast, are a group of 11 uninhabited islets belonging to the English, which are merely visited for catching turtles. The Seychelles are a cluster of 30 islets also belonging to the English.

4. Mauritius or Isle of France. This island belongs to England, and is about 35 miles in length by 25 in breadth. Its coasts are beset with dangerous reefs, but it has two good harbors. It is of volcanic origin, and is rugged and mountainous. Sugar, coffee, spices, and ebony are the principal exports. The population is about 100,000, of whom nine tenths are blacks and three fourths slaves. The capital is Port St. Louis, which is the only town, the planters living scattered over the country.

5. Bourbon. Bourbon, lying to the southwest of Mauritius, belongs to France. It enjoys a healthy climate, and the heat is tempered by breezes from the high mountains of the interior, and from the sea. There is here a volcano in constant activity, and hurricanes are frequent. The island contains no harbor, but has some good roads. Sugar, coffee, cinnamon, and spices, are the principal productions. The population amounts to 98,000, chiefly slaves and free blacks. St. Denis is the capital.

6. Kerguelen's Land, &c. Kerguelen's Land, or Isle of Desolation, is almost destitute of vegetation, but it contains good harbors, and is much frequented by seal fishers. Tristan d'Acunha, occupied by the English, is important on account of its central position.

7. St. Helena and Ascension. In the South Atlantic are St. Helena, a small rocky island, rising precipitously out of the sea, celebrated as having been the prison and burial place of Napoleon, and important for its impregnable works; and Ascension, a small barren rock, occupied as well as the former by the English; these islands are valuable as places at which ships bound to and from India may touch.

8. Cape Verd Islands. This group belongs to the Portuguese, and comprises 10 principal islands, and a number of uninhabited rocks. They produce sugar, cotton, maize, orchilla, and tropical fruits; salt is also formed by spontaneous evaporation of the sea water which is left by the tides in natural pans formed by sand banks. Santiago is the largest island, and contains Praya, the capital, with a good harbor, at which ships bound for the African coast or for the East Indies generally

touch. Santantao is the most populous island; Fogo contains a volcano. These islands are subject to great droughts, during which the thin, dry soil yields no harvest; and the inhabitants suffer all the horrors of famine. Population 60,000.

9. Canaries. This group is composed of 20 isles and islets, of which scven only are inhabited. These are Teneriffe, Palma, Lancerota, Fuerteventura, Ferro, Gomera, and Canary. The climate is mild, the air pure, and the soil yields the finest fruits, particularly grapes, of which wine of a good quality is made. The islands belong to Spain. Population 200,000.

Teneriffe, the principal island contains a remarkable mountain, called the Peak, about 12,000 feet high, which was long considered the loftiest summit in the world. The capital, Santa Cruz, is a place of some commerce, and has a good harbor; population 8,000. Orotava is the largest town, with 11,000 inhabitants.

Canaria or Grand Canary is nearly equal in extent to Teneriffe, and is distinguished for its fertility. Palmas, the chief town, has 9,000 inhabitants.

The Guanches, or native race, are now extinct, but they have left memorials behind them, in the mummies found in their sepulchral monuments, and in some architectural remains.

10. Madeiras. These islands belong to Portugal. Madeiras is about 35 miles long by 12 broad, and consists of a series of hills extending from east to west. On the southern declivity, which is covered with vineyards, the rich merchants have their country-seats. Population 100,000. The principal production is wine, which is famous for its excellence.

Funchal, the capital, stands on the south side of the island at the foot of high hills, and is defended by several forts. It has about 20,000 inhabitants, but suffers from the want of a harbor, having only an insecure roadstead,

CXLIX. GENERAL VIEW OF AFRICA.

1. Boundaries and Extent. Africa is a vast peninsula joined to the Asiatic continent on the northeast by the narrow isthmus of Suez. It is bounded north by the Mediterranean Sea; east by the Red Sea and Indian Ocean; south by the Southern Ocean, and west by the Atlantic Ocean. It extends from 38° N. to 35° S. Lat., and from 17° W. to 51° E. Long.; greatest length from Cape Blanc in Tunis to Cape Agulhas, 5,000 miles; greatest breadth from Cape Verd to Cape Guardafui 4,600 miles; area 11,500,000 square miles; population 60,000,000. From about 5° N. to 25° S. the interior of this country, comprising a tract of about 3,000,000 square miles, is wholly unknown, and with much of the remainder we are imperfectly acquainted.

2. Mountains. Our ignorance of this vast division of the globe renders it impossible to describe this great natural feature with any accuracy. But Africa seems to have neither the lofty mountain chains, nor the magnificent rivers of Asia and America. In general the African mountains appear to be more remarkable for breadth than height. In the north is the Atlas range rising in some places to the height of above 12,000 feet. The Kong Mountains extend along the western limits of Senegambia and the northern border of Guinea, and