the square. It is 30 feet high. There are battlements on the outer wall, and a parapet roof between the outer and inner. The town contains numerous churches.

AXUM, the ancient capital, is in lat. 14 6 36 N. and lon. 38 40 E. It stands in a plain, 140 miles N. E. from Gondar, and 120 from the Red sea. It is now a heap of ruins. The present town, at a little distance from the ruins, contains about 600 houses.

MASUAH is on a small island, three quarters of a mile long, and of half that width. Not more than a third of its surface is covered with houses. The island is in the large bay of Masuah, in lat. 15 35 5 N. and lon. 39 36 30 E. About 20 of the houses are of stone, 6 or 8 of which are of two stories. The other houses are composed of poles and bent grass.

ARKEEKO is on the bay of Masuah. There is water enough for large vessels close to the town; but the bay being open to the N. E. makes it uneasy riding in blowing weather. The town contains about 400 houses, built principally of coarse grass, like reeds.

Commerce. Before the discovery of the Cape of Good Hope, the commerce of this country was valuable. It was carried on chiefly with Arabia and India, and Masuah was a harbor of great resort. Gold, ivory, elephants, and buffaloes' hides, were the chief exports; and they are now exported to some extent. Slaves also are exported to India and Arabia. The imports from Arabia are blue cotton, Surat cloths, cotton in bales, Venetian beads, drinking and lookingglasses, and crude antimony. A small caravan goes yearly to Cairo, laden with gold dust.

Climate. The rainy season commences in April, and ends about the 8th of September. An unpleasant sickly season follows, till about the 20th of October, when the rains recommence. Bruce kept a register of the weather at Gondar upwards of 15 months. The greatest elevation of the mercury was 91°, in April, the least, 54°, in July. The hills are generally healthy, and great numbers of the towns and villages are built on them.

Face of the Country. The surface in the middle and S. is generally rugged and mountainous, and abounds with forests and morasses. It is also interspersed with many fertile valleys and plains. In the N. it is chiefly a flat country.

Soil and Agriculture. The soil, though thin is rendered very productive by the rains, and the overflowing of the rivers. Whereever it can be tilled and well watered, it yields abundant crops. At a medium a harvest is only about 20 for 1. All their harvests are not equal to one in Egypt.

Rivers. The eastern branch of the Nile rises in Abyssinia, and is for some distance its eastern boundary. It has been described. The Atbara pursues a N. W. course of about 800 miles, and joins the Nile, in lat. 17 50 N.

The Rahad, or Dender, is a considerable river that joins the Nile from the E. 40 miles below Sennaar.

Lake. The lake of Tzana, or Dembea, lies 24 miles S. S. W. of Gondar. It is 49 miles in length, and 35 in breadth. It contains 10 or 12 islands, some of considerable size.

Mountains. A chain of mountains runs along the whole coast of the Red sea, from Suez to Babelmandel. In lat. 13, a chain leaves it to the S. W. and W. which crosses the Nile at its cataracts, and unites with the mountains of Tugula. Still farther S. a chain seems to separate from it in the same direction, and passing S. of the Nile, to join the mountains of the Moon.

EASTERN COAST OF AFRICA.

THE coast, from Cape Gardefan, to the equator, is called Ajan, and includes the kingdoms of Adel and Magadoxo.

ADEL. Adel lies S. E. of Abyssinia, has the country of the Gallas on the W. and Magadoxo on the S. It commences, on the N. W. at the straits of Babelmandel. The country is populous, and has proved too powerful for its enemy. Several of the provinces of Abyssinia are now subject to Adel. The inhabitants are tawney, and have long, straight hair. Zeila, its principal sea port, is about 50 miles S. of the straits of Babelmandel, at the head of the gulf of Zeila. Adel, the royal residence, is in lat. & 5 N. lon. 44 20 E. on the Hawash. Assem is a sea-port on the eastern coast, and Meta on the northern. The country, though it seldom has any rain, is so well watered by rivers and canals, that it is very fertile and productive. It yields abundance of wheat, barley, and millet. The chief exports are gold dust, frankincense, ivory, and slaves. The Arabs come to Zeila to trade with the Adelites.

MAGADOXO. This kingdom is bounded N. on Adel, and S. on Melinda, between the equator, and 5° N. lat. Its limits in the interior are not ascertained. The inhabitants are stout and warlike, and speak Arabic. The king and his court are Mahometans, and most of the inhabitants are of the same religion. A few in the interior are Abyssinian Christians. Magadoxo, the capital, in about lat. 2 30 N. is a place of great commerce with the Arabs, and the people of Adel. Gold, ivory, wax, and slaves, are exported for cotton, silk, spices, and drugs. The city stands at the mouth of a large river, called by the Arabs, The Nile of Magadoxo.

The coast south of the equator, as far as about lat. 24°, is called The Coast of Zanguebar. It comprehends a number of kingdoms. MELINDA. This kingdom bounds N. on Magadoxo, reaching to the equator. The inhabitants are chiefly Mahometans, but some are idolaters. The king is absolute, and is held in great veneration by his subjects. Melinda, the capital, is in lat. 2 50 S. It is in a beautiful plain, on the coast, surrounded by fine gardens and orchards. The houses are built of square stone. They are for the most part handsome, and some are even magnificent. It is the habitation of many wealthy merchants, Arabs, and Portuguese. The exports are gold, copper, ivory, wax, and drugs. The harbor is difficult of access. The Portuguese have a fortress here, and several churches. The territory is generally rich and fertile. The necessaries of life are abundant, and the fine tropical fruits are found in high perfection.

MOMBAZA. This is the next country S. of Melinda. The Portuguese early subjugated it, and, we believe, have now the sola government. The people are more civilized than any others on the coast. The aboriginal blacks are partly idolaters, and partly Mahometans. The Arabs are Mahometans, and are numerous. The Portuguese are also numerous, and are Christians. Mombazo, the capital, is in lat. 3 45 S. It has a deep and commodious harbor, and is well defended. The streets are straight and narrow. The houses are built of stone, with terraced roofs. Its commerce is extensive. The climate is said to be healthy, and the soil is highly productive. Millet and rice are principally cultivated.

QUILOA. Quiloa is S. of Mombazo, and extends about 60 leagues from N. to S. Most of the inhabitants are Mahometans. The king is absolute over his own subjects, but tributary to the Portuguese. The Arabic is universally spoken. The inhabitants are chiefly negroes, but some are Arabs. The city of Quiica is in lat. 8 50 S, It stands on an island, near the mouth of the Coaro, and is said to be large, rich, and well built. The climate is healthy, and on the coast, temperate. The soil is generally fertile, and produces millet, rice, fruits, and good pasture.

MOSAMBIQUE is S. of Quiloa. It reaches from about lat. 10° to 15° S. Arabic is extensively spoken. The Portuguese have long been the real masters of the kingdom. The capital is situated on the small island of Mosambique, 2 miles from the main, in about lat. 14° S. It is handsomely built, has a number of elegant churches and convents, and is protected and kept in subjection by a very strong fort, at a little distance. There are several consider able ports on the main. Ivory, ebony, slaves, and cattle, are exported. The soil of the country is rich, and produces millet, rice, and various fruits and vegetables. Vast numbers of cattle are here raised. The forests abound with elephants, wild boars, and stags.

MONOMOTAPA. This is also an extensive country, reaching from about lat. 15° to 20° S. and stretching 420 miles along the coast. The emperor is powerful. The influence of the Portuguese is considerable. The natives are all black, are well shaped, robust, active, and fond of war. Polygamy, to any extent, is allowed. The emperors in this particular often rival Solomon. The metropolis is called Benemetapa, and is a large spacious city, several day's' journey from the coast. The houses are neat, and are generally whitewashed. The Portuguese are settled on the coast, and are the merchants of the country. Gold and ivory are extensively exported. The climate is described as healthy, and temperate, and the surface as chiefly upland. There is a chain of high mountains. in the interior, from which most of the gold is procured. The Zambeze, or Cuama, is a long river in the southern part of Mono motapa Proper.

SOFALA. This country, bounding Monomotapa on the S. is described as reaching about 140 miles along the coast, and 350 into the interior. A considerable number of the inhabitants are Mahometans. The capital, Sofala, is at the mouth of a large river of the same name, in about lat. 21° S. Bruce supposes that it was,

the Ophir of Solomon. The Portuguese have here a strong fort. Large quantities of gold are procured from the mountains.

SABIA, a small country S. of Sofala, is rich, fertile, and populous. INHAMBANE, S. of Sabia, terminates the Zanguebar coast.

NATAL is the name given to the whole coast S. of the coast of Zanguebar, as far as the colony of the Cape.

The Caffers are a numerous race, inhabiting on the borders of the Cape colony.

COLONY OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Extent. ACCORDING to Barrow, its castern limit is in lon. 28 20 E. Its northern, on the Atlantic, in lat. 29 55 S. Cape L'Aguillas, the southern extremity of the continent, is in lat. 34 50 S. The length on the S. coast is 580 miles; on the N. 520. The breadth in the W. is 315; in the middle 160; in the E. 225. These measures give a parallelogram, whose mean length is 550 miles, and mean breadth 233; comprehending an area of 128,150 square miles.

Boundaries. On the N. lie several extensive arid plains, and several large tracts of country inhabited by the Bosjesmen; on the E. the land of the Caffres; on the S. the Southern ocean; and on the W. the Atlantic. The Namaquas, on the N. W. are chiefly within the colony; as are some of the Caffres, and many of the Bosjesmen.

Divisions. The colony is divided into four districts; 1. Cape district in the S. W. 2. Stellenborch district in the W. 3. Zwellendam district, which no where extends far into the interior. 4. Graaft Reynet district, which comprizes all the country E. of Lyon's river, and N. E. of Zwellendam.

Religion. Calvinism was the established religion of the colo ny while in the hands of the Dutch. Other sects were tolerated. The Lutherans and Methodists had each a church at Cape Town. The Malay Mahometans, having been refused a church, performed their public service in the stone quarries at the head of the town. The funds of the Calvinistic church at that place, in 1798, amounted to 22,1687. 88. 8d.; and their annual grants to the poor, to 1,1127. 178. The funds of the Lutherans were 14,8297. 13s. 2d.; and their grants to the poor, 1941. 9s. 2d. The Church of England is probably now established.

Missions. The Moravians many years ago established, and have to this time successfully maintained a mission at Bavian's Kloof, within the limits of this colony. About the beginning of the present century, immediately after the Cape of Good Hope and its dependencies came into the possession of the British nation, a number of missionaries, with the venerable Dr. Vanderkemp at their head, were sent to this southern part of Africa, by the London Missionary Society, whose labors among the colonists, but especially among the natives, have been attended with various degrees of success, and are still continued.

Government. The government is entrusted to a governor and lieutenant governor, appointed by the crown; who also are constituted the high court of appeals.

Population. Barrow estimated the population of the whole colony, in 1797, whites, slaves, and Hottentots, at 60,000, of whom 22,000 were Christians. Its population must have since greatly increased.

Revenue. The revenue in 1801 amounted to 90,1427. 13s. 4d. sterling; and, during the whole government of Lord Macartney, was more than adequate to the expenditure.

Manners and Customs. The free inhabitants of the colony consist of 4 classes: the inhabitants of the capital, wine-growers, corn-farmers, and graziers.

Chief Towns. CAPE TOWN, the capital, is situated on the S. E. angle of Table Bay. Simon's bay, a cove or indent on the western shore of False bay, affords a safe harbor. During 8 months, when the S. E. winds are predominant, Table bay affords a most secure shelter. The town is built on a sloping plain, that rises with an easy ascent to the feet of Devil's hill, on the E. of Table mountain on the S. and of Lion's Head on the N. W. The citadel or castle is a pentagonal fort, which commands the town and the anchorage; but is itself commanded by the commencing acclivity on the E. This acclivity is now occupied by various redoubts, batteries, and block houses, commanding each other. The streets are straight, and cross each other at right angles. Many of them are well paved, open, and airy with canals of water running through them, walled in, and planted on each side with rows of oaks. Three or four public squares give an openness to the town. In one is held the public market; another is the resort of the peasantry with their waggons; and another, near the shore of the bay, and between the town and the castle, is a place of parade for the troops. This is an open, airy, and extensive plain, perfectBy level, composed of a bed of firm clay, covered with small hard gravel. It is surrounded by canals or ditches, which receive the waters of the town, and convey them into the bay. Two of its sides are completely built up with large and handsome houses; and a third is occupied by the barracks, a large, well-designed regular building, with two wings. The upper part of this building is large enough to contain 4000 men. The castle contains barracks for 1000, lodgings for the officers of one regiment, magazines for artillery, stores, and ammunition, and most of the public offices of government. The other public buildings are a Calvinist, Lutheran, Episcopal, and Methodist church, a guard house, in which the Burgher Senate meet, a large building for the government slaves, and a court house. The houses, 1145 in number in 1797, are built with great regularity and order. They are generally whitewashed, with the doors and windows painted green, two stories high, with flat roofs, and a kind of pediment in the centre of the front. The population at that time consisted of about 5,500 whites, and 12,000 blacks.

Reads, &c. The roads near the cape are good. But in the