are of luxuriant fertility, yet there is a difficulty in finding productions suited to the European market. Ivory appears the only one at present regularly supplied; and, as the average value imported into Britain from all quarters in 1836-37-38 was under £35,000, it cannot admit of very great extension. New objects of culture would with difficulty be introduced among people not much inured to regular labour. There are, however, two capital articles in regular course of cultivation, namely, cotton and indigo; but from Mr Laird's statement they both appear to be too carelessly cleaned and prepared to satisfy European purchasers. To teach the natives how to bring them into a marketable state would perhaps be the easiest way to furnish them with commodities for which there exists an almost unlimited demand.

The Americans have pursued to a certain extent a scheme of colonization, which appeared for some time to bear a very fair promise. Several of the States labour under the disadvantages arising from a continually increasing slave population, who, though treated with less severity than the negroes were in the West India islands, are in every other point of view kept in a condition equally degraded. It is a heavy additional evil, that even after obtaining their liberty, they, as well as all in whom can be traced any mixture of negro blood, are regarded as beings of an inferior order, and held almost as outcasts from society. To relieve the Union from a class who, being so much wronged, are necessarily discontented, and to employ them as instruments in the civilisation of Africa, was to accomplish a double benefit. The design was first entertained in 1816 by Dr Findlay, Mr Caldwell, and other gentlemen, who instituted a private society for this purpose; and the President, Mr Monroe, having sanctioned their views, appointed two government agents to co-operate with them. The persons employed repaired in 1818 to Sierra Leone, and with some difficulty obtained a promise of land on the island of Sherbro', which appeared the most eligible spot. In 1820, eighty-eight colonists were transported thither; but this commencement was most inauspicious. The three agents and

twenty of the settlers died of a disease incident to the climate; and it was judged expedient to remove the remainder to Sierra Leone. There they were joined by twenty-eight new emigrants, and the superintendent fixed upon another station, which, being fertile, elevated, and healthy, afforded a better promise of success to the undertaking. It is a long narrow promontory, called Cape Mesurada, projecting between a river of the same name and the ocean by which it is washed. The purchase was effected for about 300 dollars, and in the beginning of 1822 the people were located upon it. But the various disadvantages of a new settlement, joined to the hostility of the natives, soon reduced them to such difficulties that Dr Ayres was obliged to set out for America to represent their condition to the society and obtain supplies. He was succeeded as director by Mr Ashmun, under whose prudent management the colony was enabled to pass through those trying circumstances which it soon encountered. The rude natives, while the transaction consisted merely in receiving a quantity of valuable commodities, found it extremely agreeable, and were little disposed to contemplate the consequences. But when the payments were completed, and they saw a portion of their territory occupied by strangers, who were proceeding to form a new state within their own, a feeling of decided hostility took the place of their previous cordiality. Many of the fierce and warlike tribes who bordered upon the station felt equal jealousy, or were inspired by the hope of plunder. The settlers were at first much indebted to the protection of King Boatswain, a powerful chief who ruled over this part of Africa; but at length the monarchs George, Tom, Peter, Ben, Willy, Jimmy, with their auxiliaries, united in a confederacy to overpower the foreigners. On the 11th of November 1822, a general attack was made by about 1000 barbarians, while the colony possessed only twentyseven men able to bear arms, and who were imperfectly trained to the use of them. They suffered severe loss and were reduced to great extremity; but at length the assailants were completely repulsed. The attack, afterwards

renewed, was resisted with a still more decided success; and since that time no farther hostilities have occurred.

On the 20th February, the settlement was named, not perhaps in very good taste, Liberia, and the town Monrovia. A political constitution was formed, according to which the agent is to exercise the sovereign authority, subject to the directions of the Board; but the colonists were secured in equal rights, and in such privileges as might prepare them ultimately to govern themselves in a manner entirely independent. No white person is allowed to become a resident, the establishment being destined solely for the benefit of free men of colour. As the territory originally occupied was found too small for the growing population, they purchased more land on the river St Paul. Successive acquisitions have been since made, and eight stations established in an extent of about 150 miles along the coast, from Cape Mount to Trade Town. These are named Cape Mount, St Paul, Bushrod-island, Junk, John Factory, Rob Gruis Factory, and Young Sister. The entire population, which, in 1827,

was 1200, had risen in 1830 to 1500. The inhabitants of Monrovia amount to about 700.

Since that time no detailed accounts, so far as we know, have been laid before the public. We understand, however, from various quarters, and particularly from Sir James Alexander and Mr Laird, that the colony has not made the expected progress, and is at present in rather an unprosperous condition. Neither the climate nor soil has been found so favourable as was at first supposed, and few advantages are afforded for penetrating into the interior. In the United States, too, the Abolition Society has opposed the whole scheme, making it their aim to improve the condition of the negroes at home rather than to remove them. We have, however, been informed by some intelligent Americans that their endeavours to stop colonization are condemned by a numerous party, who contemplate the renewal of the measure on an extended scale. But we are not aware that any means are yet in operation for this purpose.

GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY.

CHAPTER XIX.

Geology and Mineralogy of Africa.'

Form and Situation of Africa-Its great Natural Regions or Divisions. 1. Geology of the Atlas or Northern Region-Age of the Atlas Mountains.-2. Geology of the Sahara Region-Subterranean Villages near Tripoli; in Spain and France-Tertiary Rocks of Benioleed-Soudan, or Black Mountains-Petrified Wood in the Desert-Horrid Consequences of the Slave-trade-Human Skeletons in the Desert-Natron and Salt Lakes-Desert of Bilma-Sultan of Fezzan and a Slave-On what Formation does the Sand of the Desert rest ?-Description of a Trona or Natron Lake-Fulgurite and Native Meteoric Iron in the DesertObservations on the Sand of the Desert-Moving Pillars of Sand-Sandwind-How the prevailing Winds affect the Sand of the Desert-What is the Geognostical Age of the Sahara ?-3. Geology of the Region to the South of the Sahara, and to the North of the Great Table-land-African Gold.-4. Geology of the Great Table-land of Africa-Geology of the Coast from Sierra Leone to Cape Negro-Cape of Good Hope DistrictDistribution of its Chains of Mountains, Plains, and Valleys or Kloofs --Description of the Karroo Plains-Geognosy of the Peninsula of the Cape of Good Hope-The Lion's Rump-Lion's Head-Table Mountain -Devil's Peak-To what Class of Rocks do those of the Cape Peninsula belong?-At what Period did the Cape Rocks rise above the level of the Sea?-Vegetables incrusted with Calcareous Sand confounded with Coral, and adduced as a Proof of the very recent Emergence from the Ocean of the Land supporting them-Geology of the Table-land properly so called -Account of the Sibilo of the Africans-Geological Survey of the Karroo Ground recommended-Rivers-South African Lakes-South African Springs-Remarks on the Importance of a Knowledge of the Natural History and Chemical Composition of Springs-Geology of Caffraria, Natal, &c.-Conclusion.

AFRICA is distinguished from the other continents by its nearly insular form, being connected with Asia merely by an inconsiderable neck of land or isthmus, viz. that of Suez. It extends from the equator to about the average latitude of 35° north, and also to the same degree of latitude south. The greatest length from north to south is from Cape Serrat in Algiers, in lat. 37° 18' N., to Cape Lagullas, in lat. 34° 55′ S.; and the greatest breadth from Cape Verd, in long. 17° 31'.W., to Cape Guardafui, in long. 51° 15′ E. The northern portion of this con

* According to some authors, the name, Africa, is derived from a neg. and frigus, cold; while others trace it from a small Carthaginian district, named Frigi-A-frikc-a.

tinent is fully twice the size of the southern portion, and may be considered as about equal to South America; while the southern half is contracted to half the breadth of the northern part, and is nearly about the size of New Holland. The shape of the corresponding coasts of Africa and America would induce us to infer that the two continents of Africa and America were once united, the projecting or salient part of the former fitting exactly to the Gulf of Mexico; and the bulging part of South America, about Paraiba and Pernambuco, being about the size and shape to fill up the Gulf of Guinea. This great continent has but comparatively few gulfs, bays, arms of the sea, and promontories; and hence, notwithstanding its nearly insular form, its extent of coast is much less in proportion to its area than in other quarters of the globe. The condition of man, the distribution of the lower animals and plants, even the climate of Africa, are intimately connected with this limited extent of coast.

On viewing Africa from its northern boundary on the shores of the Mediterranean, to its southern boundary at the Cape of Good Hope, the following natural divisions or regions present themselves to our attention :--

1. The Northern Region formed by the Atlas range of mountains, hills, and plains, that extend from the coast of the Atlantic to the Gulf of the Syrtis,-and by the range of fertile hills and dales, and valleys mixed with deserts, in which are some insulated spots of verdure, known under the name oases,* that extend from the termination of the Atlas to Egypt.+

2. The Eastern Region formed by Egypt, Abyssinia, Darfur, &c.

3. The Desert Region, which is the flat, comparatively low tract of generally desert country, of which the principal portion is the Great Desert or Sahara, which lies between the 29th and 16th parallels, or about 780 miles in breadth, and extending across the continent from the Atlantic to the borders of Nubia.

4. The Region of Soudan, Nigritia, or the Country of the Negroes, extending in a belt across the continent as far as Abyssinia, and from the 16th to the 5th parallel, or about 600 miles in breadth. It is a rich and fertile region, yielding, with little labour, all the valuable productions of the tropical countries.

5. Great Table-land of Africa, or High Africa.-This, in all probability, very interesting part of Africa extends from the zone of Nigritia to the Cape of Good Hope. It appears to con

*The word Oasis is Egyptian, and synonymous with Auasis and Hyasis (Strabo, lxxiii., p. Alm. 1140). Abulfeda names the Oasis Al Wahat. In latter times the Cæsars banished criminals to the Oases. They were sentenced to expiate their crimes on the islands of the Sandy Sea, as the Spaniards and English send their criminals to the Malouin Islands and New Holland. The latter could more easily escape by the ocean, than the former across the surrounding deserts.

+ The Atlas of Homer and Hesiod, according to Bory St Vincent, is the Peak of Teneriffe; the Atlas of the Greek and Roman geographers, the African Atlas range of mountains.