Africa, its Past and Future. 103 



Careful computations have been made to ascertain the average 

 elevation of the continent. The mean of the most careful esti- 

 mates is a little over 2,000 feet. The interior is therefore ele- 

 vated above the miasmatic influences of the coast, but exactly 

 what effect this elevation has upon the temperature can only be 

 ascertained after careful investigation and a series of observa^ 

 tions. North of Guinea and Senegambia the coast is less un- 

 healthy; but, as the Desert of Sahara extends to the ocean, the 

 country is of little value, and is therefore left to the native tribes, 

 unclaimed by Europeans. 



In the International Scientific Series it is stated that there are 

 in Africa ten active volcanoes, — four on the west coast, and six 

 on the east, — but I have not found any corroboration of this 

 report, and think it very doubtful if there are any volcanoes now 

 in eruption. The Kilima Njaro and Kamerun were formerly 

 active volcanoes, for the craters still exist. In the south the 

 diamond-fields are of volcanic ash formation. 



Equatorial Africa. 



The lake region of Africa stretches from the head waters of the 

 upper Nile three degrees south, to the waters of the Zambezi, fifteen 

 degrees south, — a lake region unequalled, in extent and volume 

 of water, except by our lakes. Here is the Victoria Nyanza, the 

 queen of inland seas, 4,000 feet above the sea-level; and a long 

 series of lakes, great and small, at equal elevation. The more 

 striking are Bangvveolo to the south-west, the grave of Living- 

 stone, and Nyassa on the south-east. In their depths the Nile, 

 the Kongo River, and the Shire (the main branch of the Zambezi) 

 have their source. 



The great belt of equatorial Africa, situated between the 15th 

 parallel of north latitude and the 15th parallel of south latitude, 

 has continuous rains, is everywhere well watered, and has a rich 

 and fertile soil. Some portions are thickly populated, and it is 

 capable of sustaining a dense population. North and south of 

 this belt there are two other belts of nearly equal width. In 

 each of these belts there are wet and dry seasons, with abundant 

 rain for the crops. The heaviest rainfall in the north belt is in 

 June, while in the south belt it is in December. The rainfall 

 gradually grows less toward the north, and also toward the south, 

 until it ceases in the Desert of Sahara on the north, and in 



