Vlll 
PREFACE. 
is derived from the report of Lieutenant Webb to the 
Admiralty. 
Some valuable philological remarks on the vocabu- 
laries of the African tribes have been kindly furnished 
by Dr. Latham. 
Colonel Sabine, R.A., had obligingly undertaken to 
reduce the magnetical observations, but the attention 
required by the numerous scientific works to which he 
is so unremittingly devoted, has prevented their timely 
preparation ; grateful acknowledgments are, however, 
due to that officer for supplying the accompanying letter, 
which will show that this important branch of science 
was not neglected. 
Woolwich, June 13, 1848, 
“ My Dear Sir, 
“ I regret extremely, that the reduction and co- 
ordination of your magnetic observations are not suf- 
ficiently advanced to enable me to furnish you with 
such an abstract of the results, and such a general 
notice of their importance and bearing on our know- 
ledge of the magnetism of the earth, as would have 
had a proper place in your Work, and have been 
satisfactory to yourself and to your readers. Your 
determinations of the absolute values of the magnetic 
declination, dip, and intensity of the magnetic force on 
tlie western coast of Africa, will undoubtedly sup})ly for 
