of a chief or one of his family, the grave is filled with the heads of the victims who are sacrificed, that their spirits may be in attendance on the soul of the departed. When the king's mother died, three thousand people were slain: and on occasions when the king would propitiate the higher or the lower powers, he offers these sacrifices: and as the victims are taken promiscuously the streets are deserted, or a few people only cross them by stealth, or run through them at full speed. When a death takes place in a family the slaves run forthwith to the woods, for it is usual to sacrifice one on the instant, and more at the burial. The persons to be sacrificed, are sometimes led in processions, with a knife through their cheeks and tongue.

In the Portuguese settlements, which are large, and divided into duchies, counties, and marquisates, the christian religion has been preached to the negroes since the 15th century. The gospel however, is not embraced by any free nation, and the Jagga negroes have associations to prevent its spread. This cannot excite surprise when we consider what Christians have done in this part of Africa.

In Congo, Loango and other countries, more or less subject to the Portuguese, the labors of the Capuchin missionaries have been successful, and there are more than 100,000 converts, including some native princes. It is probable that their Christianity is not of the purest kind. The outward forms of worship are those of the Romish church, though there are many pagan obser vances. French ecclesiastics also founded missions in Cacongo and Loango in 1766. The missions are still kept up though feebly in these countries, and in Benguela. At Sierra Leone, bibles are distributed by thousands in the native languages, and negroes of superior talents trained for teachers and missionaries. Similar advantages are spread also from Liberia.

The king of Ashantee has 3,333 wives and the number is religiously kept entire, though many of them are infants, and but a few hundred of the wives are attached to the palace. Polygamy is common on the whole coast, but the Mohammedan professors have generally but four wives. When the wives of the king of Ashantee go out they are preceded by boys with whips, who fall upon every one in the street, that no one may see the ladies. These boys or pages have the right of pilfering in the market, and they are always busy in their vocation. They will trip down a countryman bringing his supplies, and when scattered on the ground, collect the merchandise and run away. The market people however are very circumspect, and if they can take the pages before they reach the palace, may inflict upon them any beating short of death.

The government of the different countries or tribes is despotic, aristocratic, or republican. The ordeal by poison is used in many places, and the poison must be taken both by the accused, and the informer. Few of either survive it. Lander who was forced on his return to swallow a bowl of the vegetable poison, walked off unharmed to his tent, where he discharged his stomach by a powerful emetic and received little injury.

At Ashantee the legal interest is 334 per cent for 40 days, and if the debtor cannot pay, he may be sold to slavery, subject to redemption. In charges of treason, if the accused is acquitted the accuser suffers death. It is forbidden

by law to praise another man's wife; so that 'honey mouth,' as flattery is called, is not in repute. Conjugal disputes are sometimes settled by the interference of Mumbo Jumbo, a mysterious personage who seems to be in the interest of the husband: his interposition is decisive. He is an incarnate bugbear, dressed in the barks of trees, and sometimes surmised to be the husband him self. Mumbo Jumbo comes at evening and goes to the Bentang tree where the whole village assembles, though the females are the least pleased, for no one knows to whom the visit is intended. At about midnight Mumbo fixes upon the offender, who is stripped, tied to a tree and scourged.

The people of the western countries have the art of smelting iron, though they do not use the metal skilfully in any manufactures. They have some

sweet and simple tunes which they play on a calabash guitar, with a few notes. Marriages among the Mandingoes are celebrated by shouting, drinking and firing guns, and the bride is carried to her husband's house on the shoulders

of an old woman, who walks all the way upon mats spread before her. There are in the African concerts, also pipes, horns, drums, and old brass pans.

1. BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT. Under this head we include all the country extending from the last described territories southerly to the Cape of Good Hope, comprising the Cape Colony, Caffraria, and all the Hottentot and Cimbebas regions. It will thus extend from the Cape of Good Hope or rather Cape Agulhas, the southern extremity of Africa, in lat 34° 55' S. to about 16° N. lat. on the Western Coast, and 260 N. lat. on the Eastern Coast. boundaries are Guinea, unknown countries and Monomotapa on the north, the Indian Ocean on the east, the Southern Ocean on the south, and the Atlantic on the west.

Its

2. CAPE COLONY. This district occupies the southern extremity of Africa. The leading feature in the aspect of the Cape territory consists in three successive ranges of mountains running parallel to each other and to the southern coast of Africa. The first range, which, at least in a great part of its line is called the Lange Kloof, or 'Long Pass,' runs parallel to the coast, at a distance of from 20 to 60 miles, widening towards the west. The second range, called Zwarte Berg, or 'Black mountain,' is considerably higher and more rugged than the first, and consists often of double or even triple ranges. The belt interposed between the Zwarte Berg and the Lange Kloof is nearly of the ame average breadth as that between the latter and the sea, and it is of considerably greater elevation. Beyond the Zwarte Berg, at an interval of 80 or

100 miles, rises the Nieuweldt's Gebirge, or Snowy Mountains,' the highest range of Southern Africa, and the summits of which are generally covered with snow. They have not been accurately measured, but are not supposed in their greatest height to fall short of 100,000 feet. The passes between these mountains are called Kloofs, in Dutch. The following cut represents a pass called Hottentot Hollands Kloof. The belt or plain interposed between

these two last chains is considerably more elevated than either of the two others, so that Southern Africa forms as it were a succession of terraces, rising above each other. The plain next the sea is covered with a deep and fertile soil, watered by numerous rivulets, well clothed with grass, and with a beautiful variety of trees and shrubs. Rains are frequent; and from its vicinity to the sea, it enjoys a more mild and equable temperature than the interior and remoter parts of the colony. The second terrace contains a considerable portion of well-watered and fertile lands; interspersed with large tracts of the arid desert called karroo. The third belt, called the great Karroo, is composed of a vast plain, 300 miles in length and nearly 100 in breadth; the soil of which is of a hard and impenetrable texture, destitute almost of every trace of vegetation.

The plains of South Africa called karroos present a dreary listless uniformity of level surface, except where broken by a few straggling hills of schistus or slate, which rise, like little volcanic cones, out of a naked surface of clay, whose tinge is that of a dull ferruginous brown. All traces of animated nature are in the dry season obliterated from these dreary solitudes; and the withered remains of the fig-marigolds and other succulent plants, sparingly scattered over the surface, crackle under the feet, and seem, from the faint and feeble traces of vegetable life, to maintain a perpetual struggle for exis

tence.

The northern front of Table Mountain overlooks Cape Town, and rises almost perpendicularly, like the ruins of some gigantic fortress, till it terminates in a line, nearly horizontal, and of about two miles in extent, the highest point of which is about 3,585 feet above Table Bay. The west side of this stupendous mass of rock, extending along the seashore, is rent into hollows, and worn away into pyramidal masses. The ascent of the mountain is very steep and difficult, on account of the loose stones which roll away under the feet of the traveller. Its summit is nearly level, and very barren and bare o soil; several cavities, however, are filled with water, or contain a small quantity of vegetable earth, from whence a few odoriferous plants, particularly the Anca mucronata, an elegant frutescent plant peculiar to this region, draw

their nourishment. Antelopes, baboons, solitary vùltures, and toads are sometimes to be met with on the mountain. The view from the summit is very extensive and picturesque. The bay seems a small pond or basin, and the ships in it are dwindled to little boats; the town under the feet, and the regular compartments of its gardens, look like the work of children; all is dwindled into mere specks and lines. The air on the summit, in winter, and in the shade, is generally about 15° lower than that of the town; but in summer the difference is still greater, particularly when the southeast wind blows, and a fleecy cloud, called the Table-cloth,' appears on the mountain, and gives indication of an approaching storm. This cloud is composed of immense masses of fleecy whiteness. It does not appear to be at rest on the hill, but to be constantly rolling onward from the southeast; yet, to the surprise of the beholder, it never descends, because the snowy wreaths seen falling over the precipice towards the town below, vanish completely before they reach it, while others are formed to replace them on the other side. One of the most

3. RIVERS. The colony is deficient in navigable rivers for vessels of any considerable burden. The two principal rivers on the western coast are the Berg or Mountain River,' and the Olifant or Elephants' River.' These streams are only navigable by small craft to the distance of about 20 miles up the country. On the south coast of the colony the Breede or Broad River discharges itself into St Sebastian's Bay. Its mouth, now called Port Beaufort, allows vessels of 200 tons to enter, and discharge or load in safety. The Gauritz, the next great river on the coast, is a collection of waters from the Great Karroo and Black Mountains. In the rainy season it is a rapid and dangerous stream. The Knysna is considered by Barrow to have been a lake which has opened itself a channel to the sea, and the tide now sets into it, through a narrow passage, as into a dock. The arms of the Knysna stretch into the deep valleys at the foot of the mountains, and are there lost in impenetrable forests. The Keurboom, like the Knysna, runs up into the midst of tall forests. The Camtoos River admits vessels of 200 tons, and promises to be of great service to the colony, particularly if it prove true that coal is to be found on its banks. The Zwart-kops River is a clear permanent stream flowing into Algoa Bay. The mouth of the Kowie River is the next port to the eastward. The Great Fish River, the Rio d' Infante of the Portuguese, takes its rise beyond the Snowy mountains, and in its long course collects a multitude of tributaries. The northern frontiers of the colony are watered by two large rivers: the Lesser Fish River and the Gariep or 'Orange River.' The former, which waters the Great Namaqua territory, falls into the Orange

River about 70 miles from its mouth. The Orange River appears to be formed by two rivers which unite their waters nearly 600 miles due east from their mouth. It falls into the Atlantic in lat. 28 30. Most of these rivers, swelled by periodical rains, deposit much mud and sand at their mouths; some of them in the dry season are lost amid the sands and rocks. Besides these principal rivers there are a number of small streams, which may be generally crossed dry-shod, but after a fall of rain increase to a great size.

4. CLIMATE. The seasons in this colony are divided into monsoons, of which there are two annually; the one wet, the other dry. The dry monsoon is called summer; the wet monsoon constitutes winter. The former, or rather the spring season, commences in September, the latter in March. During the dry monsoon, southeast winds are prevalent. The wet monsoon is generally attended with northwest winds. The weather, during the wet monsoon, is disagreeable and moist, but the cold is never severe. Ice is never much more than the eighth part of an inch thick. Thunder and lightning are rare, and seldom violent. The atmosphere is healthy, and agrees well with European constitutions.

5. SOIL, PRODUCTIONS, &c. Of the district occupied by the colony, a great part is mountainous and barren; but it contains many fine and fertile tracts. The Cape has long been celebrated among naturalists and botanists as a fertile field for their labors. Almost every animal found on the African continent, may be found in the neighborhood of this colony. Two varieties of the lion are found in South Africa, namely, the yellow and the brown, or, as the Dutch colonists often term the latter, the blue or black lion. The dark colored species is the stronger and fiercer. Zebras have become very rare in the colony. The elephants have also forsaken the countries inhabited by Europeans, excepting the Sitschamma district; the two-horned rhinoceros shows itself still more rarely; and the gentle giraffe seeks the more secluded districts. The Bos Cafer, or buffalo of the Cape, is distinguished by enormous horns. Flax yields two crops in the year, and hemp is abundant. Indian corn grows well; cotton and coffee, rice and sugar, are yet but little known; European wheat and barley thrive well; the flora is singularly rich.

6. MANUFACTURES, COMMERCE, TOWNS, &c. No manufacture is conducted at the Cape, except the making of wine, of which about 7,900 pipes are annually exported to England, while the colony itself consumes at least 6,500 within the same period. The wine, called Constantia, from the name of the small district where it is made, is much celebrated. The quantity yearly produced does not exceed 100 pipes. The vines from which it is produced were originally brought from Shiraz in Persia. Vines have been transplanted from many different places: and, in several instances, the removal has improved them. Many kinds of wine are extremely cheap. Next to agricul ture and wines, the whale and seal-fishery must be ranked. The colonists are making rapid advances in several new experiments, the most prominent of which is the introduction of the silk-worm. The mulberry-tree grows spontaneously, particularly on the southeast coast; and the produce promises to be of the utmost advantage to the trade of the Cape. The Cape supplies various articles of provision and refreshment to ships sailing between Europe and the East Indies. Among these articles may be enumerated corn, flour, biscuit, beef, brandy, and wine; and while they remain in Table Bay, mutton, greens, and fruits; aloes, hides, barilla, ivory, ostrich-feathers, fruits dried in the sun for the Indian market, are the other products for exportation.

Cape-Town, the capital, is situated in a valley, at the foot of Table mountain, and at the southeast angle of Table bay. It was founded in 1652, and is built with great regularity, and with a considerable degree of elegance. The streets, which are wide, intersect each other at right angles. The houses, about 1500 in number, for the most part are of stone, cemented with a glutin ous kind of earth, and are generally whitewashed on the outside. Their