commerce carried on between Northern and Central Africa, The intercourse with Tombuctoo indeed has always been carried on chiefly from Morocco, while the caravans to Sennaar and Darfur go directly south from Egypt. But the communication of Egypt and of Barbary with the vast countries situated to the east and south of the Niger, centers almost entirely in Mourzouk, the capital of Fezzan. A caravan sets out annually from Cairo, and passing by Siwah, Augila and Zuila, reaches Mourzouk in about 40 days. The journey from Tripoli is usually performed in 27 days. Of the caravans to the south, the principal is that to Bornou, with which kingdom Fezzan maintains a regular and extensive intercourse. The road is attended with considerable difficulty as the travellers have first to cross the lofty and rugged mountains of Tibesty, and then the extensive desert of Bilma, which appears to equal in desolation any part of the Sahara. As they approach Domboo, however, life and fertility again make their appearance; and the rest of the journey is through the cultivated part of Bornou, and along the banks of its great river Wadel-Gazel. At length, after a journey of fifty days, they reach the capital. Another grand caravan goes directly southward into Cassina. It proceeds by Ganat and Assouda to Agades. Some merchants stop at that great commercial city and proceed no farther; but the greater number go on to Cassina. The route from Mourzouk to Cassina occupies about 60 days. A few proceed still farther southwards, and directing their course westward, cross the mountains of Kong to Ashantee. The goods sent from Fezzan to the southward consist of fire arms, powder, sabres, knives, paper, tobacco, India goods, red worsted caps from Tunis, glass and toys of various kinds. The imports are, gold dust from the countries on the Niger, particularly Wangara; copper from Bornou; civet, tiger skins, dyed leather, and slaves in large numbers. The number of slaves brought to Mourzouk in 1819 was 5,000.

The British government have recently appointed a consul to reside at Mourzouk, and another at Bornou, and are determined to make vigorous efforts to penetrate by this route into the interior of Africa.

The parts of the Sahara both on the east and the west of Fezzan are inhabited by wandering tribes. The principal races are the Tuarik and the Tiboo. The Tiboo occupy the tracts to the east and south-east of Fezzan. They bear a strong resemblance to the negroes, but are not so black. The Tuarik possess all the northern part of the Sahara, extending from Fezzan and the country of the Tiboo on the east, to Morocco on the west. The inhabitants of the kingdom of Asben are of this race. Besides Fezzan there are several considerable oases or fertile spots interspersed in different parts of the Sahara; the principal of which is Tuat or Twat, extending from 1° to 6° E. lon. in about lat. 23° N.

AFRICAN ISLANDS.

SOCOTRA, situated about 120 miles east of cape Guardafui, is 80 miles long and 20 broad. It has a considerable population of Arab origin, and is subject to the Imam of Mascat in Arabia. The chief commodity for which the island is resorted to is aloes, which are of a superior quality to those produced in any other part of the world.

The COMORRO ISLANDS, four in number, lie about mid-way between the northern part of Madagascar, and the continent of Africa. The inhabitants are harmless and gentle, but they have been dreadfully harassed by a band of desperate pirates who occupy the northwestern part of Madagascar. Joanna, the largest of the group, is frequented by Europeans, particulary the English, for water and provisions.

MADAGASCAR, the largest of the African islands, is separated from the eastern coast of the continent by the channel of Mozambique. It extends from 12° to 25° S. lat. The length is about 900 miles, and the area is computed at 230,000 square miles. A chain of very lofty mountains runs through the whole length of the island from N. to S. The climate is genial and the soil is fertile, producing rice, which is the principal food of the inhabitants, the sugar-cane, the cocoa-nut, the banana, and all the common productions of tropical climates, besides several which are peculiar to the island. The population is estimated at 4,000,000, and on the coast is composed of various races, Malays, Arabs and Jews; but the interior is inhabited by a negro race. They are considerably advanced in civilization, practising agriculture and several of the useful arts, and carrying on commerce by barter. The island is divided into numerous petty statęs, and the form of government is usually aristocratical. The French formerly attempted to establish settlements in different parts of the island, but were repeatedly driven out in a disastrous manner owing to the hostility of the natives. Their most permanent establishment was at fort Dauphin on the S. E. side of the island.

BOURBON is an island belonging to France, situated about 400 miles to the east of Madagascar,and containing 2,500 square miles. It is composed of two mountains, one of which is a volcano, and is continually throwing out flame, smoke and ashes. Coffee has long been the principal cultivated production. The island yields also corn, rice, maize, tobacco, the sugar-cane, aloes, ebony and a variety of trees that afford odoriferous gums and resins. There are no good harbors, and violent hurricanes frequently damage the shipping, and destroy houses and crops. The population in 1811 was 80,346, of which number 16,400 were whites, and the rest free negroes and slaves.

MAURITIUS, or the ISLE OF FRANCE, is situated about 600 miles E. of Madagascar, and is estimated to contain 1,300 square miles. It was settled by the French in 1712. About the middle of the last century they strongly fortified it, and made it their principal naval station in the Indian seas. It preserved its importance even after Britain annihilated the French power on the continent of India, and became then a grand privateering station against the British shipping. It was estimated at Calcutta that, in ten years, prizes to the value of £2,500,000 had been taken and carried into Mauritius. In 1810 it was taken by the English and may now be considered as permanently belonging to them. Oranges, pine-apples and other tropical fruits grow here in the highest perfection. Coffee, cotton, indigo, sugar and cloves are also exported to a great amount, but for provisions the inhabitants are almost entirely dependent on Bourbon. The population in 1807 was 70,000, a large proportion of whom were blacks.

ST. HELENA is on the S. W. side of Africa, in the Atlantic ocean, in lat. 15° 5' S. lon. 5° 49′ W. about 1,200 miles from the coast of Africa and 1,800 from South America. It is 10 miles long and 7 broad, and presents to the sea, throughout its whole circuit, nothing but an immense wall of perpendicular rock, from 600 to 1,200 feet high, like a castle in the midst of the ocean. The island belongs to the British, and is principally remarkable as the prison of Napoleon Bonaparte from 1815 till his death in 1821. It is also frequently resorted to as a place of refreshment by ships returning from India.

ASCENSION is a small island, situated to the N. W. of St. Helena, in lat. 8° 8' S. lon. 14° 28′ W. It is entirely barren and uninhabited; but is frequented by the homeward bound shipping, on account of its excellent harbor, and the fish, sea-fowl and turtle which it affords. The island of St. Matthew lies N. of Ascension island in lat. 1° 24' S.

GUINEA ISLANDS. 1. Annobon is a small island in lat. 1° 32′ S. about 300 miles west of cape Lopez. It contains about 4,000 inhabitants, who are a mixture of Portuguese and negroes. The island was ceded to the Spaniards in 1778, but the Portuguese appear to be still in possession of it. 2. St. Thomas is a Portuguese island, situated under the equator in lon. 6° 25' E. Its soil is fertile, producing maize, rice and tropical fruits in abundance, but the climate is very unhealthy. The population, consisting of 15,000 or 18,000, is composed of a mixture of Portuguese and negroes. St. Thomas, the capital, has 3,000 inhabitants. 3. Prince's island, situated in the gulf of Benin, about 100 miles from the coast, in lat. 1° 50' N. belongs also to the Portuguese. 4. Fernando Po, lying 150 miles north of Prince's island, is fertile and beautiful, but is little frequented by Europeans, the inhabitants being rude and uncivilized.

The CAPE VERDE 18LANDS, 14 innumber, are about 400 miles west of Cape Verde, between 15° and 18° N. lat. The climate is unwholesome and the soil for the most part rocky and barren. The principal exports are goat skins, tropical fruits, salt and saltpetre. The islands belong to the Portuguese, and the inhabitants, about 40,000 in number, are a mixture of Portuguese and negroes. The principal islands are St. Jago, which contains the capita!, and St. Nicholas.

The CANARIES are a group of islands near the west coast of Africa, between 27° 39′ and 29° 26' N. lat. They are 13 in number, of which the most noted are Teneriffe, Grand Canary and Ferro. This group was celebrated in antiquity, under the ap pellation of the Fortunate islands, and was considered as the extremity of the world. The island of Ferro, the most westerly of the group, was originally employed by all geographers as their first meridian. The aspect of all these islands is elevated and full of mountains, some of which rank among the loftiest on the globe, particularly the peak of Teneriffe, which rises to the height of 12,176 feet above the level of the sea. The sides of the mountains which incline towards the west and north, make a profuse display of vegetation, and exhibit, rising above each other, the plants of the torrid, the temperate and even the frigid Zone. The most fertile and verdant islands are Grand Canary and Teneriffe. The most valuable production of the Canaries is wine, of which Teneriffe yields from 20,000 to 24.000 pipes annually. Wheat, maize and potatoes are also cultivated.

These islands belong to the Spaniards, and the present inhabitants are entirely of European origin, the natives having long since been exterminated. The number of inhabitants is estimated at 160,000. They are of a roving and enterprising disposition, which impels them to emigrate,; and they have established themselves in all the Spanish seltiements in the New world, and in the East Indies.

MADEIRA, lying off the N. W. coast of Africa, between 32° and 33° N. lat. is 54 miles long, and is estimated to contain 1,100 square miles. The island consists altogether of a collection of lofty mountains, the highest of which rises upwards of 5,000 feet above the level of the sea. On the declivity of these mountains all the productions of the island are raised. The lower slopes are covered with vines, the loftier summits with forests of pine and chesnut. The soil produces wheat, barley and oats; but two thirds of the grain consumed in the island is derived from abroad, The commerce of the island consists almost entirely in the export of its wine to the annual amount of from 15,000 to 17,000 pipes. The best is that called London particular Madeira; the second, which is inferior, is called London market; the third is that suited to the India market; the fourth is for the New-York market; and there is a fifth, and still iuferior kind, which is called cargo.

The

The principal trade is with the British and Americans. island belongs to the Portuguese, and the inhabitants, estimated at 90,000, are almost wholly of Portuguese origin. Funchal is the capital of the island. Adjacent to Madeira are Porto Santo and the Desert isles. These, with Maderia itself, compose the group called the Madeiras.

The AZORES or WESTERN ISLANDS, 9 in number, lie in the Atlantic ocean, almost midway between Europe, Asia and Africa. They extend from 37° to 40° N. lat. and from 25° to 32° W. lon. The principal islands in the group are St. Michael, Fayal and Tercera. The surface of these islands is covered with hills of various forms and dimensions, all, apparently, the product of volcanic agency. The most terrible convulsions of nature seem to have been exhibited here on a stupendous scale. The islands have been at different times laid waste by earthquakes, of which the most formidable on record is that of 1591, which continued 12 days without interruption. The traces of these shocks appear in the mountains, many of them having been split in two, leaving a wide path between. Another phenomenon, still more extraordinary, is that of new rocks or islands, which have repeatedly emerged from the bosom of the ocean. The effect of subterraneous fire is also visible in numerous hot springs. The soil throughout these islands is exceedingly fertile, producing wheat, barley and maize much beyond the consumption of the inhabitants, gether with vines, oranges, and other fruits. The best vines are raised on the lofty sides of mount Pico, which rises, in the island of the same name, to the height of 7,000 feet above the level of the sea. Angra, the capital of Tercera, is the seat of government. The islands belong to the Portuguese, and the population, estimated at 160,000, is almost entirely of Portuguese ⚫rigin.

NORTHERN POLAR REGIONS.

New Discoveries.] The regions within the Arctic circle have been rendered interesting from the recent discoveries effected by the expeditions sent out by the British government in search of a north-west passage. The most successful of these expeditions was that under command of captain Parry, who left England in the spring of 1819, and passing through Davis's strait into Baffin's bay, reached the western shore of that bay in lat. 74° N. at a place which had been named by former voyagers Lancaster Sound. But instead of a Sound, captain Parry ascertained that it was a strait, leading directly into the Polar sea. It extends about 150 miles in a direction due east and west, the shores, bounding it to the north and south, being nearly parallel, at an average distance of 40 or 50 miles. To the now-ascertained