the north is fifteen hours; in the south of Africa the longest day is fourteen hours twenty minutes.

What is the face of the country? The rivers are large, the ranges of mountains high and unbroken; the soil, in many parts, is luxuriantly fertile; in others totally desert: the latter preponderate. Among the most considerable mountains may be classed Mount Atlas, in the north-west; Sierra Leon, or the mountains of Lions, in the west; the mountains of the Moon, central; Mount Lupata, in the south-east; and the Peak of Tenerife, which lies in one of the Canary Islands.

The rivers Nile, Niger, and Gambia, at stated periods, overflow their banks: and the Senegal has been long celebrated.

How was Africa formerly distinguished? By the powerful kingdoms of Egypt and Ethiopia, and the celebrated republic of Carthage, which long contended against the power of Rome. After its final subjugation by Scipio, the Romans explored and colonized the northern parts of Africa, as far as the river Niger. The empire of Jugurtha, consisting of Mauritania and Numidia, now forms the states of Marocco and Algier, with the country called Bled-el-jerrede.

What is the present political importance of Africa? Very little; its navy is insignificant; the people, generally speaking, supine and barbarous; some privateers still continue to be fitted out from what are termed the states of Barbary, in the north, which scour the Mediterranean, and annoy the European trade. In the seventh century, when the Roman power declined, the Saracens and Turks took possession of the northern shores of Africa, from the Nile to the Atlantic.

What are the principal states of Africa? In the north,

Marocco, an independent and despotic monarchy; Algier, Tunis, and Tripoli, tributary to the Turkish empire; Egypt, a province of the same; and Fezzan, tributary to Tripoli.

In the central parts, several principalities on the borders of the Gambia and Niger; Bambarra and Tembuctoo; the kingdoms of Bornou and Dar-fur, with Abyssinia and Sennaar on the east. Ashantee, Dahomey, and Benin, in the west.

South of the Line, Loango, Congo, Angola, and Benguela, partly possessed by the Portuguese; Mocaranga and Mozambique in the east. The southernmost portion is the flourishing colony of Good-Hope, belonging to Great Britain, and partly surrounded by the Booshuanas, Hottentots, and Kaffers.

The trade which the English formerly carried on with Benin and Dahomey, for slaves, has been abolished by the benevolent interference of the British legislature.

What are the prevailing modes of faith in Africa? In Egypt and Barbary the natives are Mahometans ; Christianity is the professed religion of Abyssinia, but debased by many barbarous customs and clouded by contemptible superstitions; Paganism is professed from the Tropic of Cancer, to the Cape of Good Hope; but Christian missionaries have been sent from England to Africa, whose success, considering the numerous obstacles which such an attempt must ever meet with from a people hostile to our faith, has been great. The characteristic of the negro is a woolly head, black complexion,

and teeth beautifully white.

34.

TABLE OF CHIEF PLACES IN AFRICA.

MAROCCO. Mequinas, Marocco, Faz, Salee, Tangier, Tetuan, Mogodor, Ceuta, Terodant.

ALGIER. Algier, Oran, Constantine, La Calle, Bona.
TUNIS. Tunis, Susa, Cabes, Africa or Mahdia.

TRIPOLI. Tripoli, Mesurata, and Lebida, the antient
Leptis.
BARCA.

Tabarca, Ptolemeta, Derna. The above are termed the states of Barbary.

KINGDOM OF FEZZAN. Mourzouk, Temissa, Zuela. EGYPT. Cairo, Alexandria, Raschid or Rosetta, Damiat or Damietta, Suez, Kosire.

WESTERN COUNTRIES. Senegambia, Senegal, French; Jillifrey and Pisania, English; the Negro states of Bondou, Bambouk, Gadou, Kaarta, Ludamar, and others.

STATES ON THE NIGER. Bambarra and Tembuctoo, Masina, Houssa, Kashna, and Wangara.

EASTERN STATES. Agades, Bornou, Baghermi or Kouka, Dar Bergoo, Dar-fur, Kordofan, Nubia, Sennaar, Abyssinia, Adel, and Ajan.

UPPER GUINEA. Country of the Foulahs; Ashantee, Dahomey, Benin, Biafra; the Grain, Ivory, and Gold, coasts; the island of Fernando-Po, Princes', St. Thomás', and Anno-Bona islands.

Lower GUINEA. Loango, Congo, Angola, and Benguela; the countries of the Jagas and other ba barous tribes.

SOUTHERN AFRICA. The colony of Good Hope; Caffraria

or country of the Kaffers and other tribes; Inhambana, Sabia, Sofala.

ON THE SOUTH-EAST. Mocaranga, Mozambique, Querimba, and Zanzibar, or Zanguebar.

ISLANDS. Fernando-Po, Princes', St. Thomas's, and Anno Bona; Madeira and Porto-Santo; the Canaries; Cape Verde Islands; Ascension; St. Helena; Tristan da Cunha; Madagascar; the Comoro Isles; Bourbon; Mauritius; Roderigue; the Seychelles; Kerguelen's Land; Amsterdam and St. Paul's Islands.

* Tembuctoo is otherwise called Tombuctoo and Timbuctoo; its true situation, and those of many other important points, is unknown, but is given in the table as represented in the best maps,