121 



AFRICA. 



AFRICA. 



123 



be in general described as a fertile region, well suited to the habitation 

 of man, and apparently not possessing a climate unfavourable to life, 

 either for the natives or Europeans who know how to take care of 

 themselves. This country, known by the general name of Soodau, 

 cannot be accurately defined. Dar-Fur would seem to be properly 

 included in it, though it partakes also of the character of the neigh- 

 bouring Sahara, and forms a kind of oasis ; but the periodical rains 

 from before the middle of June to the middle or end of September, 

 and the presence of the elephant and the hippopotamus in some parts 

 of the country, mark these at least as belonging to the Soodan regions. 

 The winds that fill Dar-Fur with thick dust blow constantly from the 

 south, and are the hot winds thus indicating a considerable extent of 

 southern country of a low and sandy character. 



The great characteristic feature of Northern Africa, the Sahara or 

 Great Desert, would form a complete physical barrier between the 

 Mediterranean and the interior but for the long and narrow valley of 

 the Nile ; which, in fact, bounded as it is in many parts on the west 

 by a high rocky barrier of limestone, from which the traveller descends 

 to the lower region of the western desert, may be considered as a 

 separate portion of the continent. The broad belt of the desert 

 stretching across the continent seems as if it were only interrupted 

 by the Nile to recommence with the same arid character in the broad 

 wastes of Arabia and the Syrian desert. Arabia, in fact, in its physical 

 conformation, belongs rather to Africa than Asia. But this extensive 

 waste is not so uniform in its appearance as to be one mass of sand, 

 Its surface i in various parts of very unequal elevation. Occasionally 

 it rises into rugged barren ranges of hills, some of which, of limestone 

 formation, contain marine shells ; and sometimes, particularly in the 

 eastern part, it is diversified with springs of water, both warm and 

 cold, which give fertility to the small spots around them, which were 

 called by the Greeks ' oases,' the same word as the modern ' wady.' 

 The Sahara, indeed, may be divided into two great divisions, of which 

 the eastern is far more diversified with springs and habitable spots. 

 The western portion, through which the traders from Marocco make 

 their way to the Joliba, is the most barren, parched, and terrific waste 

 on the surface of our globe. The abundant supply of natron (sesqui- 

 carbonate of soda) and common salt contained in the salt-lakes of the 

 Sahara, and some which is found in a fossil state, has always furnished 

 an important article of trade between the people of the desert and 

 Soodan, where this necessary of life is wanting. The western portion 

 of this desert is less known than the route from Murzuk to Bornou, nnd 

 presents, as we have said, a far more fearful and extended waste than 

 the eastern division ; it stretches westward to the very shores of the 

 Atlantic, displaying on the coasts of the ocean the same desolate and 

 sandy appearance. We have yet no observations sufficiently accurate 

 or numerous to determine the general elevation of the Sahara, though 

 there can be little doubt that it contains many uninterrupted levels of 

 considerable height. [.SAHARA.] 



The countries north of the Sahara from the southern limits of the 

 empire of Marocco, nearly as far as the Gulf of Sidra, are sometimes 

 comprehended under the general name of the Atlas Regions, so called 

 from the predominant mountain-range to which that name is given. 

 Tin; various branches and the geological character of this range are 

 l>ed under the head of ATLAS. This region contains on the 

 Atlantic coast fertile plains, bounded to the east by mountains 

 covered with eternal snow. On the Mediterranean coast the level 

 country is of much less extent, and the interior is a region of elevated 

 ground filled with hills and mountains. Our imperfect knowledge of 

 this interesting region has already received extensive accessions from 

 the French and others who have settled in the territory of Algiers. 

 The Arab geographers considered this tract as more European than 

 African in its character and position, an opinion which the physical 

 features of the opposite Spanish peninsula, with its Sierra Nevada, 

 its climate, and productions, fully justify. We cannot yet assign 

 satisfactorily any eastern limits to the physical region which may be 

 considered as belonging to the Atlas country. The Gulf of Cabes, or 

 rather the promontory of Cape Bon, may perhaps be assumed as its 

 extreme limit along the coast, while, in the interior, a mountain-range, 

 the Ghurian, of no very great elevation, extends at least as far eastward 

 as the western side of the coast of the Gulf of Sidra. To avoid these 

 mountains, the Fezzan caravans sometimes take the route through 

 Mesurata on the coast. 



The high-lands of the ancient Cyrenaica, now included within 

 tin; limits of what u often incorrectly termed the Desert of Barca, 

 f'irm a separate system, and will require a distinct description. 

 [CYBESAICA.] 



It baa been often remarked that Africa shows few, if any, traces of 

 volcanic action within historical periods, and the occurrence of earth- 

 quakes is not established on record, except within the limits of Egypt. 

 But undoubted traces of the former action of subterraneous fire are to 

 be found ; for instance, on the west coast on the banks of the Nunez, 

 and most particularly in the Canaries, the Cape Verde Archipelago, 

 the small islands at the mouth of the Rio Grande, and those in the 

 Bight of Biafra, as well as in Shoa. Jebel Tier, a small island in the 

 Red Sea, ir an extinct volcano. 



The mineral treasures of this immense continent are of course very 



fVctly known. Salt is perhaps one of the most universally 



diffused, being found from the salt lakes of the Capo Colony to the 



northern coast; and yet extensive districts, as we have already 

 remarked, such as the Soodau, are without it. But it occurs again 

 south of the equator ; it is plentifully procured from the salt quarries 

 of Angola ; and Brown mentions it also as being found in a fossil state 

 in Dar-Fur. It will probably be found on inquiry that the mineral 

 treasures of Africa are nearly as various as those of other parts of 

 the world, though at present they are imperfectly known, aud in 

 many cases only observed at spots widely removed from one another. 

 The mineral wealth of Egypt alone is considerable ; aud that of the 

 interior west of the Mozambique coast is also abundant. Gold dust, 

 however, is that which has most excited the cupidity of Europeans ; 

 and this mineral is found in the sands of the upper streams of nearly 

 all the great African rivers. 



The following are the chief African minerals and earths known to 

 commerce, or the useful arts, with some of the countries in which 

 they are found. It should be remembered that they are found in 

 other places than those here enumerated. 



Gold. Central Nigritia, Guinea coast, Mozambique coast, &c. 



Sitrei: Mines said to be at Chicova, up the Zambezi river. (Bowdich, 

 'Account of Discoveries,' &c.); Elala in S.W. part of Marocco. 



Copper. Mines of Fertit, south of Dar-Fur ; Atlas mountains ; 

 Egypt, &c. ; the Moolwas ; Zumbo, on the Zambezi, &c. 



Iron. Egypt; Dar-Fur; on the banks of the Lucala, a branch of 

 the Coanza; in the territory of the Cazembes, &c. 



Tin. Loaugo. (Bowdich.) 



Salt. Egypt, Tunis, Sahara, Angola, the Cape of Good Hope, 

 Abyssinia, Dar-Fur. 



Lead. Loaugo. (Bowdich.) 



Chalk. Dar-Fur. 



^"l/ikur. Benguela; Cassandama ( ? ), Kebrit on the Tripoli coast. 

 (Beechey.) 



Coal. Zumbo. (Bowdich.) 



V. The following view of the great divisions of Africa, according 

 to our present incomplete knowledge, will show under what particular 

 heads further information will be found. This division is one of con- 

 venience, and may be liable to objections, but it is impossible to attempt, 

 in a limited space, any complete division of Africa. 



1. The region from the Orange River southward", including its two 

 great branches, the Ky Gareep and Nu Gareep, comprehending the 

 Cape Colony, its mountains, elevated plains, European settlements, and 

 native population ; and extending eastward to the river Keiskamma. 

 [CAPE OF GOOD HOPE and NORTHERN SOVEREIGNTY.] 



2. The eastern coast of Africa, from the Keiskamma to Cape 

 Corrientes ; comprehending the sea-coast occupied by the Kaffirs, 

 and including the British colony of Natal. [BRITISH KAFFRARIA, 

 KAFKK.VRIA, and NATAL.] 



3. From Delagoa Bay to Cape Guardafui, the northern part of which 

 coast is little known ; comprehending SENNA, SOFALA, MOZAMBIQUE, 

 ZANOUEBAR, and AJAN, the last-named coast terminating at the great 

 eastern cape. 



4. The Abyssinian countries, with which may be grouped the regions 

 which border on them to the south ; with the Galla, the Somaulis, 

 Diuiakil, and other tribes, as far north as the boundaries of Sennaar 

 and Nubia. [ABYSSINIA; ADEL.] 



5. The country of the Bahr-el-Abiad, or great western branch of 

 the Nile, and the countries north of Abyssinia, comprehending the 

 Nile Valley and the eastern deserts, between the Nile and the Red 

 Sea. DARFL'R and KOHDOFAN may be most conveniently arranged 

 in this division. SENNAAR, DONGOLA, NUBIA, and EGYPT, also belong 

 to this division. 



6. The region west of Egypt, known to the Arabs by the general 

 name of Maghreb, or the West, and extending to the extremity of 

 the Atlas chain, comprehends the great political divisions of TRIPOLI 

 (including BARCA), FEZZAN, TUNIS, ALGERIE, and MAROCCO. This 

 extensive -egion is often included by Europeans in the general term 

 BARBABY, and comprehends the great mountain-system, denominated 

 ATLAS. 



7. The SAHARA, or the Great Desert. 



8. SOODAN, or Central Nigritia, comprehending the regions watered 

 by the Quorra and its tributaries to the Lake Tchad. 



9. As a subdivision of No. 8, we may reckon the coast from the 

 Senegal to the outlets and delta of the Quorra, including the 

 countries watered by the Senegal, Gambia, Rio Grande, &c. &c., 

 and the coast of Guinea, with the states in the interior. The term 

 SI:M:<;AMBIA is occasionally used to signify the country from the 

 Senegal to the neighbourhood of Sierra Leone, and under this term a 

 general description of the country is given. The British colonies on 

 the GAMBIA and at SIERRA LEONE are described under their respective 

 heads. The coast from Sierra Leone to the Bight of Biafra, includes 

 several countries which are described under GUINEA, GOLD COAST, 

 ASHANTEE, DAHOMEY", and NIGER. 



10. The region from the Bight of Biafra to the Orange River 

 comprehends a long line of coast little known, and an interior still 

 less explored. The names of LOANGO, CONGO, ANGOLA, and BENGUELA, 

 are the chief great divisions hitherto adopted for this region. 



The African islands, not immediately bordering on the coast, consist 

 of the following chief groups, or single islands : 



North A tlantic Ocean. Madeira ; the Canaries ; the Capo Verde 



