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especially at Cairo. The former are lords of the land, managing the religious and political affairs, dressed in the Turkish habit, and exhibiting all the Ottoman insolence and pride. The Mamelukes, who in times past domineered in Egypt, and were celebrated as horsemen and warriors, have lost their power, and been massacred or expelled from the country to Nubia. Egypt was formerly subject to Turkey, and governed by a Pacha or Viceroy, appointed by the Sultan. But the present governor, Mohammed Ali, being a man of an enlarged and liberal mind, and great independence of spirit, is consulting the pros. perity of the country in the encouragement of learning, and by the introduction of European arts and improvements.

The Egyptian ruins and monuments are remarkable, not so much for the architectural beauty and skill which they exhibit, as for their astonishing magnitude and firmness. The pyramids, for thousands of years, have been viewed as some of the wonders of the world. They commence near Cairo, upon the west bank of the Nile, and a range of them extends southerly for several miles along by the river. The largest covers more than 11 acres of ground, and is about 500 feet in perpendicular height. Not far from one of the pyramids is the celebrated sphynx, the statue of a huge monster, 120 feet long, cut out of the solid rock.

QUESTIONS.

What are the extent and population of Egypt? For what has it been celebrated? For what is it now remarkable? What are its boundaries? Its length and breadth? Of what does the cultivated part consist? Which is Lower Egypt? What is the extent of Middle and Upper Egypt? What is said of the climate? Of the plague ? Of the simoom? Of fair weather and rain? What especially makes Lower Egypt fertile ? What are its products? What of the soil and produce of Upper Egypt? Of what classes are the people of Egypt composed? What of the Copts? Of the Arabs? Of the Turks? Of the Mamelukes? To what power is Egypt nominally subject? What is the governor called? What of the present Pacha? What are Egyptian ruins most remarkable for? What of the pyramids, and where situated? How large is the largest? What of the sphynx?

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EGYPT.
PART SECOND.

Cairo, the capital, is the most populous and commercial city of AfriIt is situated near the east bank of the Nile, and is about 10 miles in circuit, having 30 gates. Its streets are unpaved, winding and nar row; and the houses, though built two or three stories high, have no windows in front, and are gloomy as prisons in their appearance. It contains the tombs of the Mamelukes, 300 magnificent mosques, and 36 synagogues. At the south of the city is the castle, erected upon a hill, whose top commands a most interesting view of the metropolis, the pyramids, and the rich surrounding country. Cairo is the centre of trade between Asia and the East Indies, and the vast interior of Africa. This trade is carried on by means of large caravans, who

exchange European and Indian goods for African gold, gums, ivory, and vast multitudes of slaves. Pop. 250,000.

Alexandria is situated on the coast, in the north-west corner of Egypt, 125 miles from Cairo, and communicates with the Nile by a canal. It was built by Alexander the Great, and was anciently renowned as a seat of the sciences, containing a library of 700,000 volumes in manuscript. Numerous and splendid monuments of its ancient grandeur are still standing. Pompey's pillar, formed of the finest granite, is 95 feet in height. Cleopatra's Needles, are two obelisks, each 58 feet high, and consisting of a single block of granite, overspread with hieroglyphics.

The famous catacombs, are sepulchres cut in the soft rock along the coast, from which mummies, or embalmed bodies, have been taken,after having lain there some thousands of years. On a neighboring island, is the celebrated Pharos or light house, one of the wonders of ancient days. Alexandria is the channel of trade with Europe. Pop. 20,000. Rosetta is a commercial place at the western mouth of the Nile, and Damietta is near the eastern, trading extensively with Syria and Cy. pruss. Luxor, in Upper Egypt, is built partly on the site of the ancient Thebes, which is said to have been on both sides of the Nile, 27 miles in compass, and whose ruins scattered over this wide space, are rerepresented by travellers as grand and wonderful beyond description.

QUESTIONS.

What of Cairo the capital? Of its situation, streets and houses? Of its mosques? Its castle? Its trade? Its caravans? In what part is Alexandria? How connected with the Nile? By whom built? For what renowned anciently? How is Pompey's pillar described? Cleopatra's needles? The famous catacombs? The Pharos ? Where is Rosetta? Damietta? What is said of Luxor and the ruins of ancient Thebes?

NUBIA.

Extent 360,000 sq. ms.

Nubia is a large, and for the most part, a rocky, desert region, lying between Egypt on the N. and Abyssinia on the S. It is traversed by the river Nile and by the Taoglodytic mountains, which extend along near the shore of the Red Sea. The climate is subject in summer to extreme heat, but the dryness of the atmosphere renders it salubricus. Here the plague never rages, but the influence of the simoom is often dreadful. There is some fertile soil along the Nile, and especially on the eastern bank; but the water is raised from the river and the land irrigated artificially. The desert has encroached upon the fertile country, by means of the vast masses or pillars of sand which are for. cibly driven about by the wind.

The native inhabitants are very black, but resemble the Arabs in their features. They are generally in the barbarous state, and are wanderers over the waste places; but many of them are settled in towns, and live by trade and agriculture. They are divided into nu

merous distinct tribes, each governed by its own sheik or chief; but all, in a sense, dependent upon the government of Egypt. Their religion is Mahometan. The principal products of the country are palm trees, tobacco, and a kind of grain called dhurra or tef. A great trade is here carried on with the interior of Africa, in slaves, of whom 5000 are said to be imported every year, generally under the age of fifteen, for the Egyptian and Arabian markets.

Nubia is distinguished for its magnificent ruins and monuments. And it is remarkable that they are far the most numerous on the W. side of the river; whereas the E. side appears at present much the most fertile, and capable of sustaining a population. At Ipsambul, near the border of Egypt, are the famous rnins of a temple, which was formed out of a solid rock. When discovered, it was more than half . buried in the sand. It is 115 feet in width, and 85 feet in height, supported by huge pillars, and adorned with colosal statues. There are lively paintings upon the walls, in representation of battles and victories, and on the top of the temple is an exhibition of 21 monkeys sitting in a row, each eight feet in height. The towns in Nubia are small. Suakim, on the Red Sea, is the resort of caravans trading from Africa to Arabia. Dongola, on the S., is noted as the place where the Mamelukes, having been expelled from Egypt, have taken refuge and set up a petty kingdom.

QUESTIONS.

What kind of a country is Nubia? How bounded? By what river watered? By what mountains traversed? What of the climate? Of the plague? Where is the most fertile soil ? How is it irrigated? What is said of the natives? How described? How divided? On what government dependent? What of the chief products? Of the principal trade? How many slaves, in a year, are imported? For what is Nubia distinguished? On which side of the river are the ruins? How is the ancient temple described at Ipsambul? Where are Suakim and Dongola, and how described?

SENNAAR.
Pop. 2,000,000.

Sennaar is a kingdom of Nubia, and lies N. of Abyssinia, having Darfur on the W. It was the central region of ancient Ethiopia, and being included, in a great measure, between the Nile, and an E. branch called the Tacazze, was anciently denominated the Island of Meroe.

It is a plain country, embracing much desert land, and much also that is beautiful and verdant in the season of the rains, producing a luxuriant growth of the grain dhurra, rice and sugar cane. The prevailing inhabitants are Mohammedan negroes, governed by an inde pendent chief, and extensively engaged in the trade to the interior for gold dust, gums, ivory and slaves. Sennaar is the capital town, very lively in the slave trade, and often thronged with caravans. It is guarded by an army of 30,000 men. Its houses in general are low and mean, with flat roofs; but it exhibits a royal palace of mud, and contains a population estimated at 16,000. It is 600 miles S. of Cairo.

The caravans proceed to Egypt once in two or three years. They consist each of one or two thousand camels, travelling about three miles an hour, and seven or eight hours a day.

QUESTIONS.

How is Sennaar bounded? Of what ancient kingdom was it the centre? By what rivers washed? What kind of a country? What productions? What inhabitants? To whom tributary? Engaged in what trade? What is the capital, and how described? What of the caravans to Egypt?

ABYSSINIA.

Extent 300,000 sq. ms.-Pop. 4,000,000.-13 per sq. m.

Abyssinia, the ancient Ethiopia, is interesting in its natural features, having a diversified or undulating surface, with a fruitful soil and healthy climate. It is generally exempt from the barrenness of African sands, and surrounded by mountains, which impart a refreshing coolness to the atmosphere, and pour down a multitude of very ferti lizing streams. The vallies are rich and luxuriant. The moderate declivities of the hills are suited to be cultivated and inhabited. The high lands produce wheat; and the country generally yields in abundance a small kind of grain called tef, which is in general use among the inhabitants for bread.

Abyssinia is remarkable for a level and very extensive plain, covered to the depth of two feet, with hard, pure salt, which being cut up into pieces, is not only used to season food, but circulated as money among the people. The government of the Abyssinians is perfectly despotic. The sovereign's power is absolute; but insurrections against him are frequent. The people are familiarized to scenes of civil war, anarchy and bloodshed. Thus they have become hardened and brutal in character, regarding human life no more than the life of a beast. They possess a kind of Christianity, but practice circumcision, and are Jewish and barbarous in many of their customs and manners. They are fond of eating raw, live flesh, and often slice it from the animal while living and walking.

In agriculture and manufactures they are ignorant and rude, making use of simple, ineffectual implements. They carry on considerable trade with the interior of Africa, and to foreign countries, exporting gold, ivory, and slaves in vast numbers. Gondar, the capital, is a place of some trade and importance; but it is now in the possession of the Galla, a ferocious tribe, who have made great inroads upon certain portions of Abyssinia. The houses in Gondar are numerous, but of mean appearance, being low, thatched houses of clay, with conical roofs. Pop. 50,000.

Abyssinia is now divided into three states, Tigre, Amhara and Efat. The inhabitants in general are of Arabian descent, mixed with Negroes, Jews and Turks.

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QUESTIONS.

Of what extent and population is Abyssinia? What are its boundaries? What mountains on the south? What great river receives its original, tributary streams from this mountain ? What great lake in Abyssinia? Ans. Dembea, said to be 450 miles in circumference. What was this country called anciently? What of the surface, soil, and climate? From what is it exempt? What is said of the mountains and streams? Of the valleys? Of the declivities? What is the produce of the high lands? Of the country generally? For what is Abyssinia remarkable? What of the government? To what are the people familiarized? What is their character? Their religious professions? Their customs and man ners? What of their agriculture and manufactures? Their trade? Where is Gondar, and how described ?

COUNTRIES ON THE EAST OR SOUTHEAST COAST OF AFRICA.

Little is known by Europeans of these countries. The Portuguese, who visited them more than 200 years ago, have left on record no regular description of them. The geography of this part of Africa is necessarily indefinite and imperfect.

The kingdom of Adel is fertile, abounding in myrrh and frankincense. It lies directly southeast of Abyssinia. The people are of an olive complexion and warlike character, consisting of various tribes, distinguished for their hostility to the Abyssinians.

Ajan, especially the northern part, is fertile, abounding in a variety of provisions. The eastern coast is composed of barren sands and rocks. The people of this country, generally, profess Mahometanism, and have considerable commerce in gold, ivory, and ambergris.

Zuanguebar is a large territory extending 13 degrees along this coast, and embracing Magadoxa, Jubo, Melinda, Mombaca and Quiloa. Of Magadoxa little is known, especially of the interior, as the inhabit ants were steadfastly opposed to the encroachments of the Portuguese. It extends from the equator to about 5 degrees north latitude.

The kingdom of Melinda is in the power of the Arabs or Mahometans, who wrested it from the Portuguese. It extends to Zanguebar on the south. Melinda, the capital, is a large and handsome town, pleasantly situated and elegantly built in the European style. The houses are constructed of stone, and many of them are splendid; as are also the numerous mosques and churches. Its commerce is extensive with India, Persia, and the Red Sea. Its exports in gold, copper, ivory, and drugs, are very valuable, and its merchants are active and wealthy. Mombaca and Quiloa are small, but now independent kingdoms, and little resorted to by Europeans.

The kingdom of Mozambique, with Sofala, comprehends nearly all that remains of the Portuguese possessions on this coast, which formerly extended along for about 2000 miles; but these possessions are now comprised between Cape Delgado on the north, and Cape Corientes on the south. Mozambique is a rich and luxuriant country. It is traversed by the mountains of Lupata, from which valuable streams descend, whose waters not only fertilize the soil, but abound in particles of gold dust, which is here a very important article of trade. But the

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