GEOGRAPHICAL 
" Gcogniphers, in .^'^/V maps. 
With lavage pi(f?i:ures fill their gaj)S> 
And o'er unhabitable downs 
Place elephants, for want of towns." 
The Society for Promoting the Difcover}^ of the Interior Parts 
of Africa has been fortunate in collecting much geographical 
information, in fo early a ftage of the African refearches ; and 
there is httle doubt but that in a few years all the great features 
of this Continent (v/ithin the reach of their enquiries) may be 
known and defcribed. But to accomplifli this, it will be necef- 
f iry that intelligent Europeans iliould trace fome of the principal 
routes ; as well to apportion the diflances, as to eftablifli fome 
kind of criterion for the parole information derived from the 
natives. As yet, in the wide extent of near thirty degrees on 
a meridian, between Benin and Tripoli, not one celeftial ob- 
fervation has been taken, to determine the latitude. 
But as far as materials compofed by a fcale founded on efti- 
mated diftances (that is, days journeys of caravans) may go to- 
wards the ellablifliment of geographical pofitions, the itineraries 
made life of for confl:ru£ling the new matter in the accompany- 
ing 'map, are lefs difcordant than might be expe£ted in fo wide 
an expanfe, and on the foundation of rules fo vague as thofe 
which 
