THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH. 



same reason, there is a remarkable absence of those numerous 

 islands which enrich all coasts deeply indented, which considered 

 in their physical character are in fact parts of the mainland, 

 separated from it by valleys so deep as to allow the sea to 

 now through them. Aladagascar, on the east coast, is the only 

 African island. There are a few islands of much less magnitude, 

 called the Comano Islands, between Madagascar and the coast. 

 Most of the other islands which appear in the Indian Ocean are 

 too distant to be regarded as mere appendages of Africa. 



144 



