38. What islands lie east from Morocco? 39. Where is Madagascar? 40. What islands west from Madagascar? 41. Where is St. Helena? 42. For what is St. Helena remarkable? 43. Which way from St. Helena is Ascension?
44. What cities are situated at the mouth of the Nile? 45. Which way from Cairo is Monrovia? 46. Where is Cape Town? 47. Through what towns do the caravans pass in their route between Tombuctoo and Morocco?
48. What proportion of Africa lies in the torrid zone? 49. By what is the torrid zone distinguished?
EGYPTIANS.HOTTENTOTS.
Little is known of the geography of Africa, and this is owing to the almost total want of navigable rivers, by which, in other countries, easy access is obtained to the interior. The desert character of the country is another obstacle.
Several enterprising travellers have penetrated Africa, to ascertain the sources of its rivers, and the state of the country; among whom, Bruce, Park, Denham and Clapperton stand conspicuous.
In no country do desert and fertile lands come in so close a neighborhood as in Africa. The northern part along the Mediterranean has a fertile soil, but immediately south is the great desert which is entirely devoid of vegetation. In other parts of Africa fertile spots may be found, on the margin of streams, or scattered in the midst of the almost uninhabitable Desert.
The most numerous class of inhabitants are the negroes, who inhabit almost the whole central and western parts of the country, except the Desert of Zahara. The moors inhabit the northern parts, and resemble in form and physiognomy, the natives of Europe. The Hottentots inhabit the southern extremity of the country. The wandering Arabs live on the Desert of Zahara, which they are enabled to traverse by the aid of the camel. This animal requires little food, and will live many days without a fresh supply of water.
Egypt was anciently a powerful nation, evidences of which exist in the ruins of buildings, catacombs and pyramids, which are numerous in the land. At present it is inhabited partly by barbarous tribes, and seems to have lost its ancient grandeur.