and private, and He knows with what sincerity, that we were conducted, by His providence, to this shore. Such great favors, in so sbort a time, and mixed with so few trials, are to be ascribed to nothing but His special blessing. This we acknowledge. We only want the gratitude which such signal favors call for. Nor are we willing to close this paper, without adding a heartfelt testimonial to the deep obligations we owe to our American patrons and best earthly benefactors, whose wisdom pointed us to this home of our nation, and whose active and persevering benevolence enabled us to reach it. Judge, then, of the feelings with which we hear the motives and doings of the Colonization Society traduced-and that, too, by men too ignorant to know what the society has already accomplished; too weak to look through its plans and intentions; or too dishonest to acknowledge either. But, without pretending to any prophetic sagacity, we can certainly predict to that Society the ultimate triumph of their hopes and labors; and disappointment and defeat to those who oppose them. Men may theorise and speculate upon their plans in America, but there can be no speculation here. The cheerful abodes of civilization and happiness which are scattered over this verdant mountain-the flourishing settlements which are spreading around it-the sound of Christian instruction, and scenes of Christian worship, which are heard and seen in this land of brooding pagan darkness a thousand contented freemen united in founding a new Christian empire, happy themselves, and the instrument of happiness to others—every object, every individual, is an argument, is a demonstration, of the wisdom and goodness of the plan of colonization."

The "Maryland Colony," at Cape Palmas, is in every respect a similar institution with Liberia; but under a different management. It is still in dependence on its original patrons, and its affairs are under the supervision of Governor Russworm, a very intelligent and humane man of color, sent out by the Maryland Society. The colony is equally prosperous; and there seems to be little doubt of its soon becoming a portion of the young republic. Speaking of the qualifications of Roberts and Russworm, Commodore Perry, of the United States Navy, says, in a report to the American Government, dated in 1844 :

"Governor Roberts of Liberia, and Russworm, of Cape Palmas, are intelligent and estimable men, executing their responsible functions with wisdom and dignity; and we have in the example of these two gentlemen, irrefagable proof of the capacity of colored people to govern themselves."

And with regard to the advantages of the colonists he adds :

"So far as the influence of the colonists has extended, it has been exerted to suppress the slave-trade. Their endeavors have been eminently successful, and it is by planting these settlements (whether American or European) along the whole extent of coast, from Cape Verde to Benguela, that the exportation of slaves will be most effectually prevented."

2.-Central Soudan

Central Soudan is chiefly comprised in the basin of the Kawara, and in point of fertility, is not surpassed by any other portion of the world. Its agricultural staples, its minerals and animal products supply the wants of an immense commerce, which is carried on with the states of Barbary and the west coast, by caravans, and small craft on the rivers flowing to the Atlantic. Very little, however, is known of the region; and that which is known chiefly applies to the more frequented trading stations. The country

CENTRAL SOUDON—BAMBARRA, TIMBUCTOo, &c.

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is occupied by an infinite number of petty states, the most powerful of which alone we need only in this connection remark upon. They are as follows:

SANGARAN is a large country, containing the sources of the Joliba, inhabited by a race of idolaters governed by independent chiefs.

BOURE is a hilly region, with rich gold mines, on the Tankesso, an affluent of the Joliba. It is inhabited by the Jalonkes, and governed by a Moslem chief. It has a great trade both with the interior and the coasts. Boure, its capital, is situated on the left of the river.

KANKAN, to the north of Sangaran, on the Milo, is a small state, the capital of which, of the same name, contains 6,000 inhabitants, all Moslems.

WASSOULO, to the north of Kankan, is inhabited by Foulahs, who pursue sheep-tending and agriculture. The small village of Sigala is the residence of the chief, who has large possessions of gold and silver.

BAMBARRA, formerly a large state, is now divided into two governments, which may be styled Upper and Lower Bambarra. In Upper Bambarra are the towns of Sego, with 3,000 inhabitants; Bammakoo, a commercial town further up the Joliba; Marabou, Yamma, Sami, Sansanding, and Silla. In the lower kingdom, which is now the principal power in Central Soudan, are Jenneh, its capital, a large well-built town, at the end of a small island in the Joliba, and the seat of a great trade; El-KhamdoIllah, 80 miles north-east of Jenneh, so famous for its schools; and Isaka, at the confluence of two branches of the Joliba, and the port of embarkation of travellers to Timbuctoo. MASSINA, on the Joliba, is the capital of a kingdom governed by the brother of the chief of Jenneh.

The kingdom of KONG, noted for the industry of its inhabitants, lies to the south of Bambarra, among the mountains, to which it gives its name. Its capital has the same name. Further down the river is the state of BANAN, inhabited by a commercial people resembling the Mandingoes. country of the DIRIMANS extends along the right bank of the Joliba; its chief resides at Alcodia.

The

TIMBUCTOO is perhaps the most noted of the Soudan States. It lies north of the Joliba, and is the centre of the caravan road from Barbary. The city is a large, open town, three miles in circuit, situated in a sandy plain, eight miles north of the river. The houses are mostly built of brick; but the streets are only wide enough for three horsemen to ride abreast. It contains seven mosques. The port is at Cabra, a small town on the Joliba. Timbuctoo may be considered as the principal mart of this part of Africa. The chief pays tribute to the Tuaricks of the desert, to prevent them from plundering the caravans.

BORGOU, chiefly to the right of the Kawara, is a confederation of several petty kings, the most powerful of whom are those of Wawa, Kiama, Niki, and Boussa. The capital is Boussa, on the left bank of the Kawara, with about 12,000 inhabitants. Kiami, the residence of a sultan, appears to be the most commercial and populous town of Borgou, and contains so many as 30,000 inhabitants; and Wawa, one of the finest towns in the country, has 18,000 inhabitants.

The following will exhibit a list of the states lower down the basin, with their principal towns.

Boqua, Bockwey, or Iccory, on the left bank of the Kawara, immediately below the hills, is a sort of free port or neutral place, where the people of hostile states may meet without danger. The above enumeration, however, contains but a few of the states in this section of Soudan; but we have probably said enough on a subject, in the illustration of which, nothing more than names can be produced.

The EMPIRE OF THE FOULAHS OR FELLATAHS, belongs partly to the basin of the Kawara and partly to the basin of the Tchad. It was founded by Sheikh Othman Danfodio, who was a proficient in all the learning of the Arabs, and enjoyed the reputation of being a prophet. He came originally from the woods of Ader or Tadela, and having settled in Ghoober, built a town, where the Fellatahs soon began to collect around him. Driven from it by the Sultan, he again settled in Ader, where he built another town; from all quarters the Fellatahs flocked to his standard, and in a short time he acquired possession of the whole of Haoussa, with Kano Kubbe, Youari, and part of Nyffe, and extended his ravages almost to the sea-coast. He died in 1816, when his son Bello succeeded to the government of Haoussa, while the conquered territories to the westward were given to his nephew. Sakkatoo, the capital, is a large city, on a low hill near an affluent of the Kawara, about four days' journey from the great river. It was built in 1805, by Danfodio, and has been surrounded by Bello with a wall 24 feet high, and dry ditch. Its population is estimated at 80,000. The other chief towns, &c., are Kashenah, Cassina, Kashna, Kalawawa, Zirmi, Zariya, with 50,000 inhabitants; Magaria Kano, with 40,000 inhabitants; Bababie, with 23,000 inhabitants; Kotonko, Zangæia, Katagoun, &c.

3.-Eastern Soudan.

This region includes the basin of the Tchad, and extenas eastward to the confines of Nubia and Abyssinia. It is almost entirely unknown, and has never been traversed by any intelligent explorer. The principal states of this division are:

BORNOU, situated along the sides of the great lake. This state seems to consist of "Bornou Proper," to the west of the lake; "Kamen," to the north and east; "Loggun," to the south; a part of "Mandara," to the south of Loggun; and a part of the country of the Mungas or Mungowi, to the north of the Yeou. The capital is Birnie, or New Bornou, a walled town, with 15,000 inhabitants, not far from the Tchad. Kouka, Angornou, Digoa, Old Bornou, (which formerly contained 200,000 inhabitants,) Delow, Mora, &c., are the other most important towns, and generally have large populations, and carry on considerable trade and manufactures.

BAGHERMEH, a kingdom south-east of the Tchad. The inhabitants are

noted among the Africans for their bravery and their industry. Mesna appears to be the capital.

MOBBA, a kingdom called "Dar Szaleh" by the Arabs; "Waddai" by the Fezzaners; and "Borgou" by the Bornouese. It is too imperfectly known to be described. Only a part of the kingdom appears to belong to the basin of the Tchad. Its capital is Warra, which is said to have been three times larger than Boulak, near Cairo.

And DAR-FUR, a considerable territory, situated eastward of Mobba, between the basin of the Tchad and the Bahr-el-Abiad. Its capital is Kobbe, or Cobbe, which was visited by Mr. Browne, in 1793. It carries on a great trade with the states of the Nile, and owns the supremacy of the Pasha of Egypt.

SOUTHERN AFRICA.

In this division of Africa we include, not only the whole of the continent south of the equator, but also all those unknown regions which extend northward to the chain of mountains which are supposed to stretch across its breadth; or, in other words, to a line drawn from the Camaroons, on the bight of Biafra, eastward to the Gulf of Aden. The region may be divided into four distinct portions. viz. :-1. The Maritime Regions of the West Coast. 2. The Maritime Regions of the East Coast. 3. South Africa; and 4. The Unexplored Interior. The three first we shall describe in the order in which they are above arranged; the latter, of which nothing whatever is known, need not be further remarked upon.

1. THE MARITIME REGIONS OF THE WEST-COAST.

THIS portion of Africa has generally been known as "Lower Guinea ;" and, as far as ascertained, is occupied by several nations, and by districts, which geographers have been obliged to classify, for want of information, under arbitrary titles.

The Coast of Gaboon.

The country extending from the Camaroons to Cape Lopez, is called the "Coast of Gaboon;" but almost nothing is known of the interior. It would seem, from the reports of the American Missionaries settled in this country, that it is inhabited by a great number of different tribes, living in villages. These are called-the Mpongwe, Shekani, Bakali, Kama, Batanga, &c. nations, all speaking different languages, some of which have been reduced to writing; and being more or less civilized. They are governed by absolute sovereigns, and are almost constantly at war with each other. The Mpongwe and Batanga dialects seem to be the most universal. They have been a good deal engaged in supplying slaves for the Cape Lopez market; otherwise "the trade consists principally," says Mr. Wilson, "in ivory, gum, wax, and mats of the most beautiful and tasteful workmanship which I have seen in Africa." The people near Cape Lopez are wholly under the influence of the Portuguese and Spaniards, who are deeply implicated in the slave trade; and, but for this circumstance, it would be an

admirable field to be occupied by a Mission. The Batanga people, between the Gaboon River and the Camaroons, Mr. Wilson calls "the unsophisticated natives, that is, heathen of the deepest dye, but as yet untainted by the vices of civilized countries." Their features, complexion, and language, differ from the other coast tribes, and have some affinity to those of the Caffres of South Africa. Several schools have been established among these people, and the Missions are said to be in a prosperous condition. The only place of any importance on the coast is Naango, or Georgetown, the principal slave market on the Gaboon River.

Loango.

Loango appears to extend from Cape Lopez to the Congo or Zaire River, and also includes a number of petty kingdoms. The coast is high and abrupt, but the hills are covered with soil and a luxuriant vegetation. Almost the only grains cultivated are the manioc, maize, and a species of pulse called msangen; but the greater part of the country is covered with tall grass. The finest fruits grow wild, and the sugar-cane, yams, and potatoes, attain the most perfect development. The Chinese hog is the only animal reared for domestic use. The people reside in villages, or clusters of straw huts, in the midst of palm groves. They are in the lowest stage of civilization. The principal town, and the one from which the country has its name, is LOANGO, or Banza-Loango, situated in a large and fertile plain, about two miles from the coast, in 4° 36′ south latitude, and is said to have a population of 15,000. The other principal towns are Kingulle, Malemba, and Cabenda, all noted as slave markets.

Congo.

Congo, a name originally applied to the whole coast, from Cape Lopez to Cape Frio, is now restricted to a small territory south of the Zaire. Near the sea the country is low and flat, traversed by numerous streams, and abounding in sandy deserts, but in general very fertile. The climate is pestilential. The interior consists of a succession of terraces, forming a fine, rich and populous country. The principal physical feature is the great River Zaire, which enters the Atlantic Ocean with a large body of water, 10 miles wide, in latitude 6° 5' south. The river has been explored for some distance, but its sources are unknown. Its banks are clothed with the most luxuriant vegetation. The country is divided into a number of petty states, each governed by a chenow or chief, acknowledging the supremacy of Blindy N'Congo, who resides at Banza-Congo. The Congoese belong to the least favored of the negro race, and are sunk in the lowest state of degradation and superstition. Their religion is Fetichism, with a mixture of Christianity, introduced by the Portuguese, and idolatry; but the people are said to be sincere, hospitable, and compassionate. San Salvador, Batta, Sundi, Condi, and Caugu, are the towns best known. San Salvador was formerly a great slave market.

Angola.

Angola extends south of Congo, being about 350 miles from east to west, and from 50 to 60 from north to south. It is properly a part of Congo, from which, however, it has been politically separated since the middle of the 16th century. It is extremely mountainous, being destitute