COMPUTED EXTENT OF COUNTRY. 
5 
Ukert makes it to contain 11,961,675 square 
miles, or, without its islands, 11,724,885 miles, 
witli which computation Graberg pretty nearly 
corresponds. 
According to the Abbe Guyot, its surface 
covers 8,720,000 square miles, while its coast 
extends oyer 14,000 geographical miles. Thus 
he makes it to possess 623 miles of surface to 
every one mile of coast. This is much more 
than in Europe, which possesses but one mile of 
coast to every 156 square miles of surface. 
Hence he shows that Europe is the continent 
most open to the sea for foreign connections ; 
while Africa, (which is three times its extent in 
surface), by reason of being less individualized in 
local and independent districts, is incapacitated 
from even competing with her, in this respect ; 
although possessing far more internal and in- 
digenous capabilities and products, fitting her 
to extend commerce. 
But of these stores of wealth, with which to 
increase and engender commerce, we yet know 
comparatively nothing. It remains for the 
enterprising, amidst this and succeeding gene- 
rations, to open up the mines of ores and 
minerals, that still lie hidden beneath its sur- 
face. Kor need it be a matter of much wonder 
to us, that the ancients knew so little of this 
vast continent, and nothing respecting its ex- 
