CAPE, a promontory on the west coast of Africa, forty miles north-west of the mouth of the river Gabon, in 14° 45' north lat., and 14° 40' west long. The Cape Verde islands are situated about 400 miles west of the Cape; they consist of ten islands besides islets and rocks, belonging to Portugal. The principal is San Jago, the barren and melancholy appearance of which is in unison with the wretchedness of the inhabitants. The island of Maio produces cattle and cotton; the island of Fuego (or Fire), so called from its active volcano, is abundant in fruit. Brava, or St. John's, produces excellent wine and salitre. These four islands form a chain, running from east to west. The island Boa-Vista, which is fertile in cotton and indigo, forms, with the island Sel, or Do Sal, a line north and south. The four remaining islands form part of a chain in the direction of south-east to north-west, and succeed each other in the following order: St. Nicholas, the largest and best governed of the archipelago; San Lucia, high and wooded, with only brackish water; San Vincente, wooded and abounding in tortoises; and San Amos, the mountains of which are said to equal the peak of Beni in height. All these islands are subject to destructive droughts; but their natural produce might render them of considerable value under an intelligent government. Their population is reckoned at about 42,000.

ERDUN, a city of France, the capital of the arrondissement of the same name, in the department of the Meuse, standing on that river. It is strongly fortified, and has a most powerful citadel, and is considered one of the most important defences on that side of the kingdom. In 1836 it contained 9978 inhabitants, exclusive of the military. It has woollen manufactories, and tanneries, and is celebrated for its liqueurs. Lat. 40. 9. Long. 5. 12. E.

EREA, a city of Russia, the capital of a circle of the same name, in the government of Moscow, 513 miles from Petersburg. It stands on the river Protwa, whose water can be used to fill the trenches that surround the walls. The town has considerable trade in corn, hemp, flax, honey, wax, sugar, and wool. It contains 760 houses, 6450 inhabitants, of whom 930 are registered as merchants.

ERGE, in Law, signifies the compass of the king's court, which bounds the jurisdiction of the lord steward of household. It is supposed to have been twelve miles round.

ERGERS, officers of the courts of queen's bench and common pleas, whose business it is to carry white wands before the judges. There are also vergers of cathedrals, who carry a rod tipped with silver before the bishop, dean, &c.

ERMICELLI, a composition of flour, cheese, yolks of eggs, sugar, and saffron, reduced to a paste, and formed into long slender pieces like worms, by forcing it with a piston through a number of little holes.