(according to Bochart, from a Punic word, signifying Ears of Corn); one of the four great divisions, by the moderns called quarters, of the world, and one of the three called by the Greeks ἡπερίον, or continents. By them it was also called Libya.

Africa lies south of Europe, and west of Asia. It is bounded on the north by the Mediterranean, which separates it from the former; on the north-east, by the Red Sea, which divides it from Asia, and to which it is attached by a neck of land called the Isthmus of Suez, about 60 miles over, separating the Mediterranean from the Red Sea. On the west, south, and east, it is bounded by the main ocean: so that it is properly a vast peninsula, bearing some faint resemblance of a pyramid, the base of which is the northern part, running along the shores of the Mediterranean; and the top of the pyramid is the most southerly point, called the Cape of Good Hope. Its greatest length from north to south is 4300 miles, and its greatest breadth from east to west is 3500 miles; reaching from Lat. 37° N. to 35° S. and from Long. 170° W. to 50° E.

Though the greatest part of this continent hath been in all ages unknown both to the Europeans and Asiatics, its situation is more favourable than either Europe or Asia for maintaining an intercourse with other nations. It stand, as it were, in the centre of the three other quarters of the globe; and has thereby a much nearer communication with Europe, Asia, and America, than any one of these has with another. For, (1.) It is opposite to Europe in the Mediterranean, for almost 1000 miles in a line from east to west; the distance seldom 100 miles, never 100 leagues, and sometimes not above 20 leagues. (2.) It is opposite to Asia for all the length of the Red Sea, the distance sometimes not exceeding five leagues, seldom fifty. (3.) Its coast for the length of about 2000 miles lies opposite to America at the distance of from 500 to 700 leagues, including the islands: whereas America, unless where it may be a terra incognita, is no where nearer Europe than 1000 leagues; and Asia, than 2500.

As the equator divides this continent almost in the middle, the far greatest part of it is within the tropics; and of consequence the heat in some places is almost insupportable by Europeans, it being there greatly increased by vast deserts of burning sand.—It cannot be doubted, however, that, were the country well cultivated, it would be extremely fertile; and would produce in great abundance not only the necessaries, but also the luxuries, of life. It has been asserted, that the sugars of Barbadoes and Jamaica, as also the ginger, cotton, rice, pepper, pimento, cocoa, indigo, &c., of these islands, would thrive in Africa to as much perfection as where they are now produced. Nor can it be doubted, that the East Indian spices, the tea of China and Japan, the coffee of Mocha, &c. would all thrive in some parts of the African coast; as this continent has the advantage of feeling no cold, the climate being either very warm or very temperate.

Whatever may be the case with the internal parts of Africa, it is certain that its coasts are well watered with many very considerable rivers. The Nile and the Niger may be reckoned among the largest in any part of the world, America excepted. The first discharges itself into the Mediterranean, after a prodigious course from its source in Abyssinia. The origin neither of the Nile, nor of the Niger, is certainly known; but that of the latter is supposed to run through a tract of land little less than 3000 miles. Both these rivers annually overflow their banks, fertilizing by that means the countries through which they pass. The Gambia and Senegal rivers are only branches of the Niger. Many vast ridges of mountains also run through different parts of this continent; but their extent is very little known. Some of the most remarkable are, (1.) Those called Atlas, lying between the 20th and 25th degree of north latitude, and supposed almost to divide the continent from east to west. (2.) The mountains of the moon, so called on account of their great height; supposed to be the boundaries between Abyssinia and some of the interior kingdoms. (3.) The mountains of Sierra Leone, so called on account of their abounding with lions, and likewise supposed to be the boundaries of some of the nations. (4.) Those called by the ancients the mountains of God, on account of their being subject to perpetual thunder and lightning. Of all these, however, little more is known than their names.

To what we have already said concerning the produce of Africa, we may add, that no part of the world abounds with gold and silver in a greater degree. Here also are a prodigious number of elephants; and it is surprising, that neither the ancient nor modern Europeans, peans, notwithstanding their extravagant and insatiable thirst after gold and silver, should have endeavoured to establish themselves effectually in a country much nearer to them than either America or the East Indies; and where the objects of their desire are found in equal, if not greater, plenty.

Next to gold and silver, copper is the most valuable metal; and on this continent is found in great plenty, inasmuch that the mountains of Atlas above mentioned are said all to be composed of copper ore. In short, Africa, though a full quarter of the globe, stored with an inexhaustible treasure, and capable of producing almost every necessary, convenience, and luxury of life, within itself, seems to be utterly neglected both by its own inhabitants and all other nations: the former, being in a savage state, are incapable of enjoying the blessings offered them by nature; and the latter taking no farther notice of the inhabitants, or their land, than to obtain at the easiest rate what they procure with as little trouble as possible, or to carry them off for slaves to their plantations in America.

Only a small part of this continent was known to the ancients, viz., the kingdom of Egypt, and the northern coast, comprehending little more than what is now known by the name of Barbary. It was divided into Africa Propria, and Africa Interior. Africa Propria comprehended only the Carthaginian territories. Africa Interior comprehended all other nations to the southward of these territories, or those at a greater distance from Rome. The only kingdoms, however, with which the Romans had any connection, were the Numidians, the Mauritians, and the Gaetuli. All these, as well as Egypt, were swallowed up by that enormous power, and reduced to the condition of Roman provinces. But the Romans never seem to have penetrated beyond the tropic of cancer. There appears, indeed, to have been some intercourse between them and the Ethiopians: but the latter always preferred their liberty; and we find their queen Candace mentioned in the times of the apostles, when the Roman power was at its highest pitch.

Between the tropic of cancer and the equinoctial line, a multitude of savage nations were supposed to have their residence, known by the names of Melanogatuli, Nigrice, Blemyes, Dolopes, Astacuri, Lophagi, Ichthyophagi, Elephantsphagi, &c. (which are taken notice of, as well as the others already mentioned, under their proper names); but that Africa was a peninsula, seems to have been totally unknown both to the Europeans and Asiatics for many ages.—It is probable indeed, that some of the Phenicians, and their offspring the Carthaginians, were not so ignorant; as they carried navigation to a much greater height than either the Greeks or Romans: but their discoveries were all concealed with the greatest care, lest other nations should reap the benefit of them; and accordingly we can now find no authentic accounts concerning them. The navigation round Africa, in particular, is recorded by the Greek and Roman writers rather as a strange amusing tale than as a real transaction; and as neither the progress of the Phenician and Carthaginian discoveries, nor the extent of their navigation, were communicated to the rest of mankind, all memorials of their extraordinary skill in naval affairs seem in a great measure to have perished, when the maritime power of the former was annihilated by Alexander's conquest of Tyre, and the empire of the latter was overturned by the Romans.

That the peninsula of Africa, however, was in reality sailed round by the Phenicians, we have on indisputable authority; for some of that nation undertook the voyage, at the command of Necho king of Egypt, about 604 years before the Christian era. They sailed from a port in the Red Sea, and after three years returned by the Mediterranean: and the very objections that were made to the veracity of their accounts at that time, are unanswerable proofs to us that this voyage was really accomplished. They pretended, that, having failed for some time, the sun became more and more vertical, after which he appeared in the north, and seemed to recede from them; that as they returned, the sun gradually seemed to move southwards; and, after becoming vertical once more, appeared then in the south side of them as before they set out. This, which we know must certainly have been the case, was deemed incredible at that time, and universal ignorance concerning the extent of this continent prevailed till the 15th century. The first attempts towards attaining a knowledge of Africa was made by the Portuguese in 1412. Notwithstanding their vicinity, they had never ventured beyond Cape Non, situated in about N. lat. 27°: it had received its name from a supposed impossibility of passing it. This year they proceeded 160 miles farther, to Cape Bojador; which stretching a considerable way into the Atlantic ocean, with rocky cliffs, appeared so dreadful to the navigators, that they returned without any attempt to pass it. In an attempt to double this formidable cape, they discovered the Madeira islands in 1419: but Cape Bojador continued to be the boundary of their continental discoveries till 1433; when they penetrated within the tropics, and in a few years discovered the river Senegal, Cape de Verd, and the islands which lie off that promontory. In 1449, the western islands, called the Azores, were discovered: and in 1471, they first penetrated beyond the line; and were surprized to find, that the torrid zone, contrary to the opinion of the ancients, who imagined it to be burnt up with heat, was not only habitable, but fertile and populous. In 1484, they proceeded 1500 miles beyond the line; so that they began to entertain hopes of finding that way a passage to the East Indies: and two years afterwards, the Cape of Good Hope was discovered by Bartholomew Diaz; but it was not till the year 1497, that the Portuguese, under Vazquez de Gama, actually doubled this cape, and discovered the true shape of the continent. Thus the coasts of Africa were made perfectly known; and probably the knowledge concerning its interior parts would have been much greater than it is, had not the general attention been called off from this continent by the discovery of America in 1492.

The Romans for a long time maintained their power in Africa: but in the year 426, Bonifacius, supreme governor of all the Roman dominions in this quarter, being compelled to revolt by the treachery of another general called Attila, and finding himself unable to contend with the whole strength of the Roman empire, called in Geiseric king of the Vandals to his aid, who thereupon abandoned the provinces he had seized in Europe, and passed over into Africa. Bonifacius, however, however, being soon after reconciled to his empress Placidia, endeavoured in vain to persuade the Vandals to retire. Hereupon a war ensued, in which the barbarians proved victorious, and quickly overran all the Roman provinces in Africa. In the year 435, a peace was concluded; when Numidia and some other countries were ceded to the Vandals, who soon after seized all the rest. These barbarians did not long enjoy their ill-gotten possessions: for, about the year 533, Belisarius drove them out, annexing the provinces to the eastern empire; and in 647, the Saracens, having conquered Mesopotamia, Egypt (which anciently was not included in the meaning of the word Africa), Phenicia, Arabia, and Palestine, broke like a torrent into Africa, which they quickly subdued. Their vast empire being in 936 divided into seven kingdoms, the African states retained their independency long after the others were subdued by the Turks; but in the beginning of the 16th century, being afraid of falling under the yoke of Spain, they invited the Turks to their assistance; who first protected, and then enslaved, them. They still continue in a kind of dependence on the Ottoman empire. They are not, however, properly speaking, the subjects of the grand Signior, but call him their protector, paying him an annual tribute. On the coasts, the natives are almost all addicted to piracy; and with such success have they carried on their employment, that the greatest powers in Europe are become their tributaries, in order to procure liberty to trade on the Mediterranean.

Concerning even those states which are nearest to Europe, very little is known; but the interior nations are scarce known by name; nor do almost any two of the most learned moderns agree in their division of Africa into kingdoms; and the reason is, that scarcely any traveller hath ever penetrated into these inhospitable regions. According to the best accounts, concerning those regions of Africa lying beyond Egypt and Barbary, they are divided in the following manner. On the western coast, to the south of Barbary, lie the kingdoms of Bildulgerid, Zaara, Negroland, Loango, Congo, Angola, Benguela, and Terra de Natal. On the eastern coast beyond Egypt, are those of Nubia, Adel, Ajan, Zanguebar (between these two a huge desert is interposed), Monomatapa, and Sofola. In the interior parts, the kingdoms of Lower Ethiopia, Abex, Monemuge, and Matanan, are made mention of. The southernmost part, called Cafraria, is well known for the habitation of the Hottentots.

In many material circumstances, the inhabitants of this extensive continent agree with each other. If we except the people of Abyssinia, who are tawny, and profess a mixture of Christianity, Judaism, and Paganism, they are all of a black complexion. In their religion, except on the sea-coasts, which have been visited and settled by strangers, they are pagans; and the form of government is everywhere monarchical. Few princes, however, possess a very extensive jurisdiction; for as the natives of this part of Africa are grossly ignorant in all the arts of utility or refinement, they are little acquainted with one another; and generally united in small societies, each governed by its own prince. In Abyssinia, indeed, as well as in Congo, Loango, and Angola, we are told of powerful monarchs; but on examination, it is found that the authority of these princes stands on a precarious footing, each tribe or separate body of their subjects being under the influence of a petty chieftain of their own, styled Negus, to whose commands, however contrary to those of the Negasha Negashet, or king of kings, they are always ready to submit.

The fertility of a country so prodigiously extensive, might be supposed more various than we find it is: in fact, there is no medium in this part of Africa with regard to the advantages of soil; it is either perfectly barren or extremely fertile. This arises from the intense heat of the sun; which, where it meets with sufficient moisture, produces the utmost luxuriance; and in those countries where there are few rivers, reduces the surface of the earth to a barren land. Of this sort are the countries of Anian and Zaara; which, for want of water, and consequently of all other necessaries, are reduced to perfect deserts, as the name of the latter denotes. In those countries, on the other hand, where there is plenty of water, and particularly where the rivers overflow the land part of the year, as in Abyssinia, the productions of nature, both of the animal and vegetable kinds, are found in the highest perfection and greatest abundance. The countries of Mandingo, Ethiopia, Congo, Angola, Batua, Truticu, Monomatapa, Cafati, and Mehenemugi, are extremely rich in gold and silver. The softer metals, likewise, are found in these and many other parts of Africa. But the persons of the natives make the most considerable article in the produce and traffic of this miserable quarter of the globe.

On the Guinea or western coast, the English trade to James Fort, and other settlements near and up the river Gambia; where they exchange their woollen and linen manufactures, their hardware, and spirituous liquors, for the persons of the natives. By the treaty of peace in 1783, the river of Senegal, with its dependencies, were given up to France. Gold and ivory, next to the slave trade, form the principal branches of African commerce. These are carried on from the same coast, where the Dutch and French, as well as English, have their settlements for this purpose.

The Portuguese are in possession of the east and west coast of Africa, from the Tropic of Capricorn to the Equator; which immense tract they became masters of by their successive attempts and happy discovery and navigation of the Cape of Good Hope. From the coast of Zanguebar, on the eastern side, they trade not only for the articles abovementioned, but likewise for several others; as senna, aloes, civet, ambergris, and frankincense. The Dutch have settlements towards the southern part of the continent, in the country called Cafraria, or the land of the Hottentots, particularly Cape Town, which is well settled and fortified; where their ships bound for India usually put in, and trade with the natives for their cattle, in exchange for which they give them spirituous liquors.

The Portuguese being sovereigns of the greatest part of the coast, have a number of black princes their tributaries. There are some independent princes who have extensive dominions; particularly the kings of Dahome and Widal, the most noted of any for the infamous slave trade. Upwards of 200 years have the European nations traded with Africa in human flesh; and encouraged in the Negro countries, wars, rapine, AGA

desolation, and murder, that the West India islands might be supplied with that commodity. The annual exportation of poor creatures from Africa for slaves hath exceeded 100,000; numbers of whom are driven down like sheep, perhaps a thousand miles from the seacoast, who are generally inhabitants of villages that have been surrounded in the night by armed force, and carried off to be sold to our traders.—Nor do our planters, who purchase them, use any pains to instruct them in religion, to make them amends for the oppression thus exercised on them. It is said they are unnaturally averse to every thing that tends to it; yet the Portuguese, French, and Spaniards, in their settlements, succeed in their attempts to instruct them, as much to the advantage of the commerce as of religion. It is for the sake of Christianity, and the advantages accompanying it, that English slaves embrace every occasion of defecting to the settlements of these nations.—But upon this subject the feelings and reflection of the nation have of late been abundantly roused, and in the investigation of it the wisdom of the legislature is soon to be employed.