Africa and its inhabitants . by isletsand reefs. These volcanic islands have altogether an area of over 20,000 acres,the principal island comprising over three-quarters of the whole extent. Theyare composed entirely of lavas, either compact or broken into innumerable frag-ments, or else reduced to a rich blackish mould. The highest peak in Tristam,which has been several times ascended, terminates, like the volcanic cones in theother islands, in a crater now flooded by a blue lake. Towards the north-west thelava-streams have acquired the appearance of a vast moraine descending down to 98 ^TiST
Africa and its inhabitants . by isletsand reefs. These volcanic islands have altogether an area of over 20,000 acres,the principal island comprising over three-quarters of the whole extent. Theyare composed entirely of lavas, either compact or broken into innumerable frag-ments, or else reduced to a rich blackish mould. The highest peak in Tristam,which has been several times ascended, terminates, like the volcanic cones in theother islands, in a crater now flooded by a blue lake. Towards the north-west thelava-streams have acquired the appearance of a vast moraine descending down to 98 ^TiST AFRICA. the sea, and fringed by a sort of natural wall of blocks foi a distance of some may possibly be traces of an old gbcial epoch. At present snow remains only on the higher grounds, very little ever fallingas low as sea-level. The climate is very mild, but also very damp, the narrowupland valleys being traversed by torrents, which in many places develop copious Fig. 39.— da 1 : 200, We5,ofGr 0 to 660Feet. Deptlis. 660 to 3,300Feet. 3,300 Feet andupwards. 3 Miles. cascades. According to the Rev. Mr. Taylor the thermometer varies from about68° F. in summer to 58° or 60° F. in winter, and even at night it rarely falls tomore than eight degrees below freezing point. The prevailing winds blow fromthe west and north-west; but during the antarctic winter, and especially inAugust and September, they are often replaced by fierce southern gales, lashing
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