AFRICAN COAST EXPLORED.

Zarco and Vaz began the cultivation of their island of Madeira, but met
with an untoward event at first. In clearing the wood, they kindled a fire
amongst it, which burned for seven years, we are told; and, in the end,
that which had given its name to the island, and which, in the words of
the historian, overshadowed the whole land, became the most deficient
commodity. The captains founded churches in the island, and the King of
Portugal, Don Duart, gave the temporalities to Prince Henry, and all the
spiritualities to the Knights of Christ.

From this time forth, Prince Henry prosecuted his explorations with a
fixity of purpose which could not but ensure success. Through every
discouragement he persevered still. Many a Swiss peak has gone through
three phases. It has been pronounced, first, "inaccessible," then, "a very
dangerous ascent," and finally, "a pleasant excursion." So it was with
each fresh headland which seemed to bar the way down the African coast.
And the travellers who came last, in each case, found it next to
impossible to imagine what were the difficulties and dangers that had
seemed so formidable to their predecessors.


BARRIER OF ROCKS.

For a long time Cape Bojador, which is situate seventy leagues to the
south of Cape Nam, was the extreme limit of discovery. This cape was
formidable in itself, being terminated by a ridge of rocks, with fierce
currents running round them; but was much more formidable from the fancies
which the mariners had formed of the sea and land beyond it. "It is
clear," they were wont to say, "that beyond this cape there are no people