Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/121

 feet, a ruined volcano, which falls abruptly southwards. Some of the eruptive rocks are of submarine origin, and the surrounding waters are of great depth, the sounding-line revealing abysses of 1,260 fathoms within 4 miles of the coast.

Of Ribeira-Grande, the former capital, little remains except its name. It was badly situated on a small pebbly stream, with a hot southern aspect, cut off from the refreshing northern breezes by the inland mountains. But although captured and nearly ruined by the French in 1712, it still retained the official title of capital till the year 1770, when it was replaced by Villa da Praia. This place lies on a semicircular bay on the south-east coast exposed to the south winds, and a meteorological observatory has here been established. There is a small natural history

museum, and Praia is also an important telegraphic station, forming the intermediate station for the Atlantic cables between Europe, Senegambia, and the New World.

The island of Fogo, or "Fire," is of circular form, and, like Gran Canaria and Gomera, consists of a single eruptive mass, culminating in the centre with the volcano of Fogo, which according to Vidal and Mudge has an altitude of 9,950 feet. The crater, about 8 miles in circumference, lies within another crater, and the peak is visible 90 miles seaward. —

This island, formerly known as Sam-Felippe, did not receive its present name