250 AFRICA 



land interrupted by savanas and thornwoods. In the 

 moister depressions, however, the vegetation may attain 

 the profusion of the true selva. The extra-tropical 

 southern point of the island is very much drier, and 

 offers a vegetation not unlike that of the Karroo. 

 Long detached from the main mass of the African 

 tableland, the block of Madagascar, while retaining 

 much of the plant and animal population of the con- 

 tinent, has developed many special types of its own, 

 which give it a specific character. Among the curious 

 plants may be mentioned an obelisk-like pandanus 

 and, better known, the banana-like traveller's tree, 

 the beautiful ravenala: several rubber-trees are also 

 to be found here. 



All agricultural industries of the Tropics find a pro- 

 mising field amid the varied conditions of this island. 

 The native populations, on the whole, were more ad- 

 vanced than the Africans. For a time, attempts at 

 colonization were unsuccessful, because the approach 

 was made from the unhealthy eastern shore, but recently, 

 decided progress has been made by settlers on the 

 western and northern sides. 



CHAPTER VI 

 EUROPE 



General. In the general land-mass of the northern 

 hemisphere, Europe appears like a peninsula grafted on to 

 the western side of Asia and advancing into the middle of 

 temperate seas. Its geographical situation, its subdued 

 relief and the penetrations of inland seas almost to its 

 eastern limits ensure for the small continent a great 



