226 * HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



no doubt that aborigines inhabited Japan since the earliest times; and it 

 must be pronounced very unlikely that the population of Japan came from 

 the continent of Asia, 



PL 22, fig. 10, represents a Japanese lady ; fig. 11, a Japanese man of 

 rank in the act of drawing on his fine gloves ; fig. 12, one of the same class 

 in gala dress ; ^^. 13, a Japanese fisherman's family; and ^^^. 14, parasol 

 and sign-bearers. Fig. 8 represents an inhabitant of the island of Lieu- 

 Kieu, with a blue coat reaching to the knee, a red girdle suspending the 

 pipe and tobacco-pouch, sandals attached to the bare feet, and in his hand 

 a feather fan. 



The Nations of Africa. 



Africa is the hottest part of the world, owing to its position, shape, and the 

 conformation of its soil ; and although a fourth part lies within the temperate 

 zone, it has, with the exception of the northern declivity of the Atlas, the 

 hot climate of the rest of the continent, in consequence of the influence 

 of the whole. The eastern coast is cooler than the western, only by reason 

 of the trade winds, prevailing almost all over Africa. In the interior, hot 

 days alternate with cool nights, often even with night frosts, a change in 

 the highest degree pernicious to the human frame. Still more injurious 

 is the alternation of the hot and rainy seasons, chiefly on the west and east 

 coasts ; having, it is ti'ue, the more beneficial effect upon nature, which, as 

 soon as the rain, preceded by the most terrible heats, ceases, shows an 

 indescribable luxuriance. Everything has obtained new life ; it is the 

 joyful season of hot Africa. The fruitful season, however, does not 

 long continue ; the heat increases, the rivers dry up, vegetation, with 

 the exception of the small succulent plants, perishes, until the time of 

 rich blessings again begins. The greatest fertility is observed on the 

 coasts of Africa, where the large rivers and the heats exercise a joint 

 influence. 



Africa is not densely populated. In the southern part of Soudan (Nigri- 

 tia) live the dusky Negro race : in the north of the same country the light 

 colored Berbers are found as an original stock ; whom, however, later 

 immigrants and conquerors, as Moors, Jews, and Arabs, have driven into 

 the mountains and oases. In the south of Africa dwell the Hottentots and 

 Bushmen ; in the north-east the inhabitants of Abyssinia; and round about 

 on the coast Europeans have settled. 



The Moors. 



The name Moors originated in the eighth century, when the Arabs of 



Africa invaded southern Europe, as they were confounded with the ancient 



Moors of Mauritania. The name Moor was then given, not only to all 



non-nomadic Arabs, but even to all Mohammedans of India, little as they 



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