during the i/ea7^ 1829-SO. 168 



The society has reserved, for competition, two prizes for, dis- 

 coveries in Africa ; a prize for travels in Caramania ; a prize for 

 travels in Guiana ; and several prizes for the geography of France. 



The third volume of the Memoirs of the Society was published 

 at the beginning of the year. It contains very detailed researches, 

 the result of the long continued labours of M. Bruguieres, on the 

 Orography of Europe, This excellent work fully justifies, by its 

 geographical importance, the determination of the society to be 

 at the expense of its publication. 



The fourth volume is composed of different historical and 

 geographical works, amongst others, of a translation of Jordanus, 

 by Baron Coquebert de Montbret. We trust that the scientific 

 world will soon possess it. 



The fifth volume will contain a translation of the Geography of 

 Edrisi, by M. A. Jaubert, whose absence for two years in the 

 Ottoman empire, in the service of France, will sufficiently explain 

 the delay which this publication has experienced. 



The society has not neglected to maintain its connections with 

 the French and foreign travellers, who visit the different countries 

 of the globe, and who are anxious to seek for, and accept its 

 patronage. It follows their path with an earnest solicitude ; and 

 I am now about to detain you, for a short time, with the relation 

 of their efforts to render themselves worthy of your honourable 

 encouragement. 



Africa, so near to us, but whose interior was so little known, 

 has for some time past been an object of more general attention 

 than formerly. The political movements, which for more than 

 thirty years have led so many Europeans to the land of Egypt, 

 now under the influence of a foreign civilization, imposed by a 

 hand, which it is difficult to characterize ; the recent expedition, 

 which has transported the conquerors of Algiers to the foot of 

 the Atlas ; the numerous, and frequently unfortunate attempts 

 to penetrate into the heart of those latitudes, which have hitherto 

 been represented upon our best maps but as vast deserts ; and, 

 lastly, the restlessness which agitates our times, and the noble 

 ambition of attaching one's name to something new, and to the 

 glory of having overcome obstacles which are unknown in 

 countries where the European has established his customs and 

 his laws; — all these circumstances suffice to explain the prefe- 

 rence which our travellers give to the exploration of Africa. We 

 shall, therefore, commence with Africa, in our review of their 

 labours, 



Africa. 



The Geographical Society has, with pleasure, observed a 

 Frenchman (M. Douville) directing his steps towards Portuguese 

 Africa ; and has received a letter from him, dated Rio Janeiro, 

 June 1, 1830. A short time after his return from Angola, this 

 traveller announced that he was in possession of many curious 

 documents connected with this country, which he appeared to 



VOL. III. u 



