INTRODUCTION. 37 



Africa, comparatively fpeaking, is but little known, 

 modern travellers having penetrated no great way 

 into its interior parts ; fo that we are not only igno- 

 rant of the bounds of its interior parts, but even of 

 the names of feveral of the inland countries. From 

 the bed and latefl accounts we have of the inhabitants 

 of Africa, they are frequently at war with one ano- 

 ther. This is not much to be wondered at, when we 

 fee the profefled Chriftians and enlightened philofo- 

 phers of Europe caufing the fields to fwim with the 

 blood of each other. 



In the year 1788 a number of noblemen and 

 gentlemen formed themfelves into a fociety for the 

 purpofe of promoting the difcovery of the inland 

 diftridts of Africa ; and they have publiflied their pro- 

 ceedings, which I have read ; but it does not appear 

 that they have yet made any great progrefs. In page 

 90 of their book it is faid, " The heats of Fezzan, 

 which begin in April, and continue till Novem- 

 ber, are intenfe ; that from 9 in the morning till fun- 

 fet the llreets are only frequented by the labouring 

 people, and even in the houfes refpiration would be 

 difficult, if the expedient of wetting the apartments 

 did not furnifli its falutary aid. Of this torrid cli- 

 mate the fiercenefs is chiefly felt from the month of 

 May to the end of Augufl, during which period the 

 courfe of the wind is ufually from the E., the S. E., 

 and the S. W. ; and though from the two latter 

 points it blows with violence, the heat is often fuch 

 as to threaten inflant fufFocation ; but if it happens 

 to change, as for a few days it fometimes does> to 



C 2 the 



