was Tripoli. All these states, except Morocco, afterward fell into the hands of the Turks. 6. During a long period, the Barbary states were in the habit of fitting out vessels to cruise against the ships of other nations. Their prisoners were sold as slaves, and never returned to their own country, unless a high ransom was paid for them. 7. The Americans were the first who made any considerable resistance to these outrages. In the year 1803, Commodore Preble sailed to the Mediterranean Sea with a small American fleet. He intended to attack Tripoli; but one of his frigates, the Philadelphia, got aground in the harbor. 8. The Turks took possession of the Philadelphia. But one night, Lieutenant De-ca'-tur entered the harbor of Tripoli, and rowed toward the captured vessel, with only twenty men. He leaped on board, followed by his crew, and killed all the Turks, or drove them overboard: the Philadelphia was then set on fire. 9. After this exploit, Commodore Preble obtained some gun-boats from the King of Naples, and with these and the American vessels, he made an attack on the fortifications of Tripoli. The Bashaw of Tripoli was forced to give up his prisoners. 10. In the year 1815, Commodore Decatur-the same who had burnt the Philadelphia-was sent with a fleet against Algiers. He captured their largest vessels, and compelled the Algerines, and the Tripolitans also, to agree never more to make slaves of Americans. 11. In 1816, Algiers was battered by an English fleet under the command of Lord Exmouth. This was the severest chastisement that the Algerines had ever received at that period. But in 1830, the French sent a large naval and military force against Algiers, commanded by Marshal Beaumont. 12. The war continued for seventeen years, an Arab leader, by the name of Abd-el-Kader, making a powerful resistance to the French. At length Abd-el-Kader was defeated and taken prisoner; so the country was conquered, and Algiers, under the name of Algeria, is now a province of France. 5. Which of the Barbary states fell afterward into the hands of the Turks? 6. What were these states in the habit of doing? 7. What was done in 1803? What of Comm. dore Preble? 8. What of the Philadelphia? What did Decatur do? 9. What attack was made upon Tripoli? What of the bashaw? 10. What was done in the year 1815? What agreement did the Tripolitans and Algerines make? 11. When was Algiers battered by the English fleet? What took place in 1830? 12. What of Abd-el-Kader? What of Algiers now? FACTS AND FABLES. CHAPTER XLIII.-AFRICA-CONTINUED. 91 Curious Facts and Fables about Africa. 1. Most of the other regions of Africa can hardly be said to have any history. The inhabitants possess no written records, and cannot tell what events have happened to their forefathers. 2. The ancients had very curious notions about Africa, for they had visited only the northern parts, and contented themselves with telling incredible stories about the remainder. They supposed that toward the eastern shore of the continent, there were people without noses, and others who had three or four eyes apiece. 3. In other parts of Africa there were said to be men without heads, but who had eyes in their breasts. Old writers speak also of a nation whose king had a head like a dog. There was likewise said to be a race of giants, twice as tall as common men and women. 4. But the prettiest of all these fables is the story of the Pigmies. These little people were said to be about a foot high, and were believed to dwell near the source of the river Nile. Their houses were built something like birds' nests, and their building materials were clay, feathers, and egg-shells. 5. These Pigmies used to wage terrible wars with the cranes. An immense army of them would set out on an expedition, some mounted on rams and goats, and others on foot. 6. When an army of the Pigmies encountered an army of the cranes, great valor was displayed on both sides. The cranes would rush forward to the charge flapping their wings, and sometimes one of them would snatch up a Pigmy in his beak, and carry him away captive. 7. But the Pigmies brandished their little swords and spears, and generally succeeded in putting the enemy to flight. Whenever they had a chance, they would break the eggs of the cranes, and kill the unfledged young ones without mercy. 8. Until within a few years, the moderns have not known much more about the interior of Africa than the ancients did. They have now acquired considerable knowledge respecting it; but the subject belongs rather to geography than history. Nearly the whole of the central part of Africa, through which the river Niger [ni'-jer] flows, is called Nigritia [ni-grish'-e-a], or Negro-land. It is inhabited by several different nations. CHAP. XLIII.-1. What of the inhabitants of most parts of Africa? 2. What were the ideas of the ancients concerning Africa? 4. What is the prettiest of all these fabulous stories? Give some account of the Pigmies. 8. What knowledge have the moderns of the interior of Africa? Where is Nigritia? What of the inhabitants? 9. The principal city of Nigritia is called Tim-buc'-too. No white people have ever visited it, except one American, one Englishman, and one Frenchman. The name of the latter was M. Caillié. He was there in 1827, and describes the city as built in the shape of a triangle, and situated eight miles from the Niger. 10. The houses are only one story high, and are built of round bricks baked in the sun. The poor people and slaves dwell in huts of straw, shaped something like bee-hives. All around the city, there is an immense plain of yellowish-white sand. 11. There are English and French settlements on the western coast of Africa. There was formerly a Dutch settlement at the southern extremity of the continent, but the English have had possession of it since the year 1806. This is called Cape Town, and is situated at the Cape of Good Hope. CHAPTER XLIV.—AFRICA-CONTINUED. History of the Slave-Trade. 1. THE most painful part of the history of Africa is that which belongs to the slave-trade. From the earliest ages, when human society was yet in a rude state, it was the custom to make slaves of those who were taken in war. This practice was continued in after times, and thus, for thousands of years, slavery was established in nearly all the nations of the earth. In ancient Greece and Rome the slaves constituted a large part of the inhabitants. 2. But in those countries where the Christian religion prevailed, slavery came into general disuse. In 1482, however, the Portuguese began the traffic of the African slave-trade, and the English followed in 1563. Thus slavery was established in the American colonies. 3. For at least two hundred years, this traffic was carried on to a great extent. The custom was for vessels to go to the western coast of Africa, and purchase of the African princes such prisoners as they had for sale. Sometimes, however, the captains of the vessels would rob the people of their children, or they would go on shore with a body of armed men, and carry away the inhabitants of a whole village. 9. What of Timbuctoo? Who have visited it? What does M. Caillié say of it? Describe it. 11. What of settlements? What of Cape Town? How long have the English had possession of it? What was the custom CHAP. XLIV.-1. What is painful in the history of Africa? in the earliest ages? How was slavery established? 2. What effect had the Christian religion upon slavery? When did the Portuguese engage in the slave-trade? The English? 3. How long was the traffic carried on? What was the custom? What was done by captains of vessels ? CHRONOLOGY OF AFRICA. 93 4. The poor negroes thus taken from their homes, and separated forever from all they held dear, were crowded into the vessels bound for America or the West Indies. On the passage they were often half-starved, and sometimes suffered from disease, or unkind treatment. Such was frequently their distress, that they would jump into the sea, or beat out their own brains in despair. 5. In modern times, the principal civilized nations have made laws to suppress the slave-trade, and it is now treated as piracy by them. America was the first nation to set the example which led to this state of things. Some bad men still carry on the slave-trade, but they do it secretly, well knowing that they would be not only held in detestation, but be severely punished, if they were detected in their evil doings. CHAPTER XLV.-AFRICA-CONTINUED. Chronology of Africa. 1. THE following table exhibits the dates of the most remarkable events in the history of Africa. Egypt conquered by the Turks............ 1517 A government founded at Al-giers', called the Regency of Algiers. 1518 The English begin to traffic in slaves.. 1563 Tu'-nis seized by the Turks.. 1574 Napoleon invades Egypt.. 1798 Sir Ralph Abercrombie drives the French out of Egypt. 1801 Trip'-o-li attacked by Commodore Preble... 1803 The English take Cape Town from the Dutch. 1806 Caillie, a Frenchman, goes to Tim-buc'-too. Commodore De-ca'-tur attacks Algiers.. Lord Exmouth attacks Algiers... City of Algiers taken by Marshal Beaumont... 4. Describe the state of the negroes. 5. What of the slave trade now? CHAP. XLV. The teacher will here put such questions on the Chronology as ho deems proper. 1815 1816 1827 1830 |