Chap, v.] Geography, 51 



which they assumed, for a large body of destitute 

 Africans, or descendants of Africans, then in the 

 British dominions 5 and, through the medium of 

 this colonial establishment, to do something toward 

 the introduction of knowledge and civilisation into 

 those benighted regions. Although instituted with 

 a different view, the exertions of this society have 

 subserved the cause of geographical discovery. The 

 messengers and agerits of the association have added 

 not a little to our knowledge of Africa. Among 

 these, Messrs. ^\'att and Winter botham deserve to 

 be honourably mentioned. Their enterprising 

 journey into the interior of the country, and espe- 

 cially the information which they furnished re- 

 specting the Foidah nation, entitles them to the 

 thanks of every lover of humanity and of science. 



New light, of a curious and interesting kind, has 

 also been thrown, during the period under review, 

 on the geography and condition of some of the 

 African Islands. For much of this information we 

 are indebted to Adanson, Rochon, Marion, Cook, 

 Grant, Bernardin de St. Pierre, and sir William 

 Jones*. Several of these gentlemen observed with 

 a philosophic eye, and communicated their know- 

 ledge with a scientific precision, which it may be 

 asserted are found with peculiar fl equency among 

 modern travellers. 



A large portion of Europe was so well known, 

 antecedently to the commencement of the period 

 which we are considering, that geographical dis- 

 coveries could scarcely have any place with respect 



* Sir William Jones has given the best account oi tlie Gomoro 

 Isks extant. — See the Asiatic Miicdiany. 



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