AFRICA, (derived according to Bochart from a Phœnic word signifying ears of corn), was represented by the ancients as one of the three great divisions or continents of which they believed the world to consist. —By them it was called Libya. Since the discovery of America, it has been considered by the moderns as one of the four quarters of the globe.
Excepting at its north-east corner, called the Isthmus of Suez, which is a neck of land, about sixty miles over, that unites it to Asia, Africa is entirely surrounded by water. On the north it is bounded by the Mediterranean sea, which divides it from Europe. Its whole western coast is washed by the waters of the Atlantic ocean, by which it is divided from America; and on the east, the Red sea and the Indian ocean separate it from Asia. From the Mediterranean sea on the north, to the Cape of Good Hope, which constitutes its southern extremity, is no less than 4300 miles. Its broadest part, from Cape Verd, in the Atlantic ocean, to Cape Guarda-fui, near the straits of Babel-Mandel, at the mouth of the Red sea, is 3500 miles from west to east. In shape it somewhat resembles a triangle, of which the Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic ocean form two sides, while the third side consists of the Red sea and the Indian ocean.
The greater part of this vast peninsula has in all ages remained unknown to the other inhabitants of the world. The general aspect however of its situation, represents it as well situated for maintaining a commercial intercourse with the other quarters of the globe. It stands as it were in the centre between Europe, Asia, and America; and therefore has a much nearer communication with each of them than they can have with one another. It is opposite to Europe, on its northern boundary, the Mediterranean sea, for almost 1000 miles in a line from east to west; the distance seldom 100 miles, never 100 leagues. It is opposite to Asia the whole length of the Red sea; the distance sometimes only 15 miles, seldom 50 leagues. Its coast, for about 2000 miles, lies opposite to America, at the distance of from 500 to 700 leagues, in-
cluding the islands; whereas America is nowhere nearer Europe than 1000 leagues, and excepting at its north-west corner, where it is yet little known, is not nearer to Asia than 2500 leagues.
The knowledge of the ancients concerning Africa seems to have been, in a great degree, limited to the countries adjoining to the Mediterranean or to the Red sea. The ideas, however, which Herodotus entertained of this great continent are by no means incorrect upon the whole: and it has been reserved for our own times to verify a part of the description which he has given of the interior of Africa. Previous to his time, the whole sea coast of this continent had been explored by the conductors of an expedition fitted out by Necho, one of the kings of Egypt. It is to be observed that this Necho took Sidon, and reduced Phœnicia and Palestine. He must therefore have possessed considerable maritime power: Nor was he less powerful by land; for he marched through Palestine and Syria to attack the Assyrians near the Euphrates, and, in his way, defeated and slew Josiah the king of Judah, who opposed his march at Megiddo (2 Kings xxiii. 29.) Having defeated the Assyrians (or Babylonians) he placed a strong garrison in Carchemish, a fortified city on the Euphrates which he had taken; and, in his return, he took possession of Jerusalem, called Cadytis by Herodotus. This enterprising prince employed a body of Phœnician mariners to circumnavigate Africa, an undertaking which they accomplished with success. The following is the short narrative given by Herodotus of this remarkable transaction:
"Except in that particular part which is contiguous to Asia, the whole of Africa is surrounded by the sea. The first person who has proved this, was, as far as we are able to judge, Necho king of Egypt. When he had desisted from his attempt to join by a canal the Nile with the Arabian gulf, he dispatched some vessels, under the conduct of Phœnicians, with directions to pass by the Columns of Hercules, and, after penetrating the Northern ocean, to return to Egypt. These Phœnicians, taking their course from the Red sea, entered into