developed, the indigo plant being indigenous to the tropical regions of Africa.

At the present time we find most of these requisites united in the most favorable manner in Hausa, especially in the province of Kano, and I need not repeat here the terms of admiration which the high degree of development, in the commercial entrepot of the chief place of that province, has wrested from me in another place.

Nyffi has been from ancient times celebrated for industry, but since the rising of the Fulbe has been greatly reduced by civil war.

The whole course of the Niger, with its eastern affluent the Benuwe, is of the greatest importance, especially about the confluence of the two principal branches, and in the upper course between Timbuktu and Sansandi.

In this latter district certainly the native commerce is greatly developed; but the middle course of the river, between Timbuktu and Sinder, about 80 miles northwest of Say, has very little commerce and intercourse at the present time.

Thus likewise the whole country between Hausa and Timbuktu is in a very disturbed state. The consequence is, that the merchandise which is exported from Kano to Timbuktu takes the roundabout way by Ghat, Ghadamis, and Tawat.

The country near the mouth of the Niger is especially important for the palm-oil trade, the value of which at present amounts to more than two millions; but this palm is not to be found at a greater distance from the coast.

It is remarkable that this part of Africa, which has been endowed by nature with almost the same natural wealth as India, should have remained so poor, while the former country has developed such an immense amount of wealth.

The most ancient commercial entrepot in these regions was Audaghost, which, in the tenth century, carried on an extensive commerce with Sigilmasa or Sijilmesa, at a time when the western part of Barbary was most flourishing. At a later period, when Tunis and the commerce with Egypt were more flourishing, the trade settled rather in the northeastern corner of the Niger in Gogo or Gagho, the capital of Songhay, and in Tademekkas, the former being mentioned as a commercial place as early as the latter half of the tenth century. And the route to this part of the Niger, from Egypt by way of Aujila, probably was pursued from very ancient times-this being the route which, according to the indications of direction given by Herodotus, was followed by the ancient Nasamones.

*

Gogo, on the Niger, between Timbuktu and Say, was the most flourishing place of Negroland for at least six centuries.

Tademekka was supplanted by Agades in the sixteenth century; but Agades only remained flourishing as long as Gogo was a large commercial place, and began to decline from the moment that the capital of Songhay lost its independence. Afterwards Kebbi, Zan

fara, and Kano flourished for some time, and it was not till about forty years ago that Kano became a great commercial entrepot.

Farther westward Walata or Biru was a considerable commercial place, till it was conquered by the Songhay King Sonni Ali, when the greater part of the merchants residént there transmigrated to Timbuktu, but notwithstanding Walata was still important in Leo's

time.

All these commercial places were supplied from the north, but a great change was brought about in the commerce of these regions when the Portuguese, in their enterprising career, appeared on the western coast of Africa about the middle of the fifteenth century, and applied themselves with the greatest energy in opening a peaceable intercourse with the interior. That was the reason why one of the great commercial routes at that time took the roundabout way by Wadan.

The Portuguese even established in the latter place, at such a distance from the coast, a factory, although they preserved it only for a short time. They then entered the Senegal, and pushing continually on along the coast, founded their principal colony El Mina, on the Gold Coast. From this very spot they sent one of their famous embassies, of which we have received information, into the interior, to Musa, King of Songhay. But it does not seem as if the Portuguese succeeded in opening a steady commercial intercourse with the interior. And certainly the circumstance, that the interior regions in this part of Western Africa are hemmed in by a considerable chain of mountains, is not favorable for commerce on a large scale, although in other respects the road from the Gold Coast appears to be one of the most accessible. But in general the roads are very difficult, and can only be pursued by people on foot.

This is the reason why the European settlements on the coast never became of any great importance, except those on the Senegal and Gambia. And in this respect settlements made in favorable and healthy localities, on the Niger, and on its great eastern branch the Benuwe, would necessarily become of paramount importance. For there is no doubt that, for an extensive European commerce, the various caravan roads through the desert are far too expensive and dangerous in the present unsettled state of these countries, and the value exported and imported along these highroads has of late greatly decreased. But from whatever quarter Europeans may endeavour to open intercourse and regular and legitimate trade with these nations, the first requisite seems to be the strictest justice and the most straightforward conduct; for almost all the natives of the interior of Africa are traders by disposition; and the naked pagans themselves at the least want to barter for beads, in order to adorn their own persons and those of their women.

There is no doubt that if the Europeans go on in such a way a great amount of commerce will here develop itself, and that one or other

of the native kingdoms will rise again to great power and strength, such as we see exhibited in former times. For the existence of powerful kingdoms is eminently necessary for the development of legitimate trade in regions torn by almost continual warfare.

Religion. The original worship of nearly all the African tribes was a worship of elements, especially the sun, moon, and fire, besides the worship of the souls of their ancestors, which seems to be common to almost all the African tribes. And it seems as if originally the forms of worship had been less savage and absurd than they are at the present time. Thus the religious rites of the tribes in the interior in general are by far purer than those near the coast.

Most of the pagan tribes in the interior with whom I came in contact, and about whom I gathered information, have not such a developed priesthood, nor such an influential class of sorcerers, as is the case with the tribes near the coast.

We have seen already that it was the Berbers that first brought Islam to Negroland. These were especially the Zenagha or IdawelHaj, led on by Abu-Bakr-ben-Omar, who died in the year 480 of the Hejra. Thence, from the upper course of the Niger, about Zagha and Silla, the town visited by Mungo Park, Islamism spread over the neighboring countries. But also on the northeastern bend of the Niger, where the great river of western Negroland approaches nearest to Egypt, we find, as early as the beginning of the eleventh century, the Mohammedan religion an essential requisite of royalty with the ruler of the kingdom of Songhay; and about the same period, in the latter half of the eleventh century, we find the Mahommedan religion also adopted by the royal family of Bornu. For everywhere civilization and Islam migrate together, hand in hand with commerce, and the sixteenth century, which was the period of the prime of the kingdom of Songhay as well as of that of Bornu, was also the time when Mohammedan learning flourished most on the Niger as well as on the Komadugu near Birni.

From the N. Y. Colonization Journal.

THE SPANISH OUTRAGE.

LETTERS FROM DISTINGUISHED LIBERIANS.

MONROVIA, September 12, 1861.

Rev. J. B. PINNEY:

Dear Sir: Some time in the month of June last, the Government had occasion to despatch the Quail to Gallinas to order away or to bring to trial, just as circumstances might require, a Spanish schooner, which had gone there for the purpose of purchasing slaves. She was found in the river, having discharged her cargo of goods, and bargained for her load of human beings. The officers of the Quail boarded her, with a view of bringing her to Monrovia, to be tried, either for violating our revenue law or for buying slaves within our territory. But during the time of making preparations to carry into effect the order of government an English cruiser, the Torch, went into Gallinas for the purpose also of arresting the slaver, and did seize, and thus set fire to and destroyed her; for which act the Spanish Government became displeased, and ordered one of its armed vessels up here from Fernando Po to chastise us;

and yesterday, at twelve o'clock, the vessel came in, and, without asking any questions, or even visiting the shore, steamed alongside the Quail and fired into her twice with grape and round shot. For endeavoring to suppress the slave trade, within our territory, we are first opposed by the natives and then unceremoniously murdered by the Spaniards.

Great Britain, by an armed force, ought not to have been the first to throw into our face an indignity, by taking out of our harbor last April, before trial, two English trading vessels, schooners, which had openly and willfully violated our revenue law, and thus opened the door for the ingress of every species of insult and contumely that others choose to throw in upon us. Will stronger America and England remain dormant, and look on with indifference, while these outrages are being committed upon a weaker nation, by a barbarous people, against humanity and international justice? I think not. Liberia is the last place to which we can remove and be free, it being our legitimate home, and here we will stay, unless otherwise determined by Infinite Wisdom, until we die.

Very respectfully and truly yours,

D. B. WARNER.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, MONROVIA,
September 26, 1861.

Reverend and DEAR SIR:-1 received your brief note of 7th of August, by Rev. Mr. Blyden, and thank you. The operations are going on at Finley. There are some forty civilized persons out there, about twenty-five of whom are volunteers; the others are workmen, timber getters, carpenters, and masons. The superintendent of that county thinks he can report the receptacle completed there in all of November. The work is being prosecuted as vigorously as can be under the circumstances. The labor on the road from the St. John's to Finley will be resumed the first dry season month-say November. I am pleased that New York and New Jersey are as determined as ever to efficiently prosecute that enterprise. Unless I am greatly mistaken in my views, before the expiration of five years, the influx of immigration from the United States will have attained an annual average of not less than several thousands. A more prudent and humane course cannot be adopted than a timely preparation by the multiplication of interior settlements in our several counties, for the reception, health, and prosperity of the tide that will soon flow in upon us so copiously.

I send inclosed the first number of a bill of exchange for $414 50, received from Messrs. Johnson, Turpin & Dunbar, on account Seth Grosvenor. I remitted $750 by the bark Cordelia, hence in July. I wrote to you last week by the U. S. steamer San Jacinto.

Messrs. Johnson & Turpin will give you all the particulars respecting the conduct of the Spanish man-of-war and certain Spaniards on the coast, said to be acting under the authority of the Governor-General of Fernando Po. Suffice it to say that the Quail so disabled the aggressor, the Spanish war steamer, that she had to put into Sierra Laone for repairs. If we have wronged Spanish subjects in any way we are willing to give satisfaction, to make prompt redress, when civilly applied to. But we will never be bullied into measures. having travelled five thousand miles to secure the liberty we have in Liberia, we will die to a man rather than permit the slave trade to be forced upon us in our territory by any nation under the sun, because of their superior power.

Yours, respectfully,

Rev. J. B. PINNEY, Cor. Sec. N. Y. S. C. S.

And

STEPHEN A. BENSON.

P. S.-I think it very proper to have one of the high schools at Bassa. Finley seems to be an excellent place for the Alexander High School, since the College and the Methodist Academy here supersede its necessity in this city.

B.

SUDDEN LOSSES OF LIFE IN LIBERIA.-We find record in the Liberia Herald of the death of six persons by accident. One was Captain Mungo, of the public schooner Quail, whose life was lost in the attempt to take out the Spanish slave-trader from Gallinas river; another was shot by his own fowlingpiece, when going out gunning; and four carpenters were upset when crossing the St. John's river-near the same place where the Rev. Mr. Cheesman was drowned last year. One more, the saddest of all, was the death of the son of Vice-President Warner, caused by the unexpected discharge of a cannon at Fort Norris, while preparing to repulse the attack of the Spanish war vessel on the Quail. We deeply sympathize with this bereaved father, who has often been called to bow under heavy sorrows.

We are deeply pained to record such losses, because Liberia has no lives to throw away, and because it indicates a carelessness of life quite discouraging to those who seek to enlarge her population.-Colonization Journal.

From the Missionary Herald.
MISSIONS.

Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions.

GABOON.

BARAKA. William Walker, Missionary; Mrs. Catharine H. Walker; Miss Jane A. Van Allen, Teacher; one native helper.

NENGENENGE.—Ira M. Preston, Missionary; Mrs. Jane E. Preston; one native helper.

IN THIS COUNTRY.-Albert Bushnell, Jacob Best, Epaminondas J. Pierce, Andrew D. Jack, Missionaries; Mrs. Lucinda J. Bushnell, Mrs. Gertrude Best; Mrs. Mary E. Jack.

Mr. and Mrs. Best, Mr. and Mrs. Bushnell, and Dr. and Mrs. St. John, have returned to the United States, on account of health and other considerations; and the two last have been released from their connection with the Board. Mr. Clark was married, January 1, to Miss Maria M. Jackson, and has resigned his connection with the Board, to labor in the field of the Presbyterian Mission on Corisco island, with which Miss Jackson was connected. The older brethren of the Gaboon Mission, though deeply sensible of the obstacles that have long stood in their way, still cling to their chosen field and work. Mr. Walker thinks the discouragement and trials encountered at the Gaboon are not peculiar to that place; and that no change of locality would give a more hopeful field. There has been more religious interest during the year than for some time before.

ZULUS.

MAMPUMULO. Andrew Abraham, Missionary; Mrs. Sara L. Abraham. UMVOTI.-Aldin Grout, Missionary; Mrs. Charlotte B. Grout.

ESIDUMBINI. Josiah Tyler, Missionary; Mrs. Susan W. Tyler.

UMSUNDZI.-Lewis Grout, Missionary; Mrs. Lydia Grout.

INANDA.-William Mellen, Missionary; Mrs. Laurana W. Mellen.
ITAFAMASI.- -Vacant.

AMANZIMTOTE.-Silas McKinney, Missionary; Mrs. Fanny M. McKinney; two native helpers.

IFUMI.-William Ireland, Missionary; Mrs. Jane W. Ireland. AHMAHLONGWA.-Stephen C. Pixley, Missionary; Mrs. Louisa Pixley. IFAFA. Seth B. Stone, Missionary; Mrs. Catharine M. Stone. UMTWALUMI.-Hyman A. Wilder, Missionary; Mrs. Abby T. Wilder. UMZUMBI RIVER.-Elijah Robbins, Missionary; Mrs. Addie B. Bobbins. STATION NOT KNOWN.-Henry M. Bridgman, Missionary; Mrs. Laura B. Bridgman.

IN THIS COUNTRY.-Daniel Lindley, David Rood, Missionaries; Mrs. Lucy A. Lindley, Mrs. Alvira V. Rood.