The Press.
London, England, 1856-08-02 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

the same difference between his plays and
those of Shakespeare, as between the natural
windings of a brook and the direct progress
of a canal which goes straight to its appointed
•n d.

Mr. Knowles's plots are usually good, though,
like his characters, more meagre than they ap-
pear on the stage. If we examine his three best
dramas we shall find that they rest on a very
slender foundation. Virginias is simply a
dramatised translation of two or three chap-
ters in Livy. The salient points—i. e., the
betrothal of Icilius and Virginia; the sud-
den lust of Appius ; and the tragical end of
the heroine—are all brought out into bold
relief But the effect is in reality rather pano-
ramic than dramatic. The same is true, in a
modified degree, of the Hunchback. There is
no attempt to soften down the violent transi-
tion from Julia, the country innocent, to Julia.
the town coquette ; from Clifford the wealthy
knight, to Clifford the poor secretary. Every•
thing is sacrificed to rapidity of action. The
plot, as far as the situation of Master Walter is
concerned, is dramatically good ; but it is not
enough to hang a five-act play upon. The
plot of The if is in its essential point a
mere repetition of Much Ado About Nothing ;
nor can we see anything in it to justify the
eulogium of the Edinburgh Review, quoted in
the advertisement to the present volumes
If from the story we turn to the characters,
we find them the merest sketches, presenting
an effective exterior but hollow within. The
character of St. Pierre in The Wife is, perhaps,
the least defective of any. The contest be-
tween his good and evil disposition—the one
natural, the other brought about by want and
temptation—is not badly sustained; but then
the picture is quite unfinishPd. There are
none of those subtle touches through which a
character is in a moment revealed to us by the
masters of the dramatic art The author
wrote for the stage, and the stage only; and
if his personages pass muster before the audi-
ence all is well. In The Hunchbaek this fault
is still more conspicuous. Master Walter pro-
mises well in the opening scene. His quick-
ness to take offence at Gaylove's remarks is
skilfully and naturally introduced ; but after
this the character falls away. He neither says
nor does anything further peculiar to a person
of his temperament, or in any way differing
from the regulation old gentleman of the pre-
sent day. In Modus, Helen, and Sir Thomas
Clifford, excellent materials seem lost. The
latter is a man of straw, though meant, we
think, for something more substantial ; and
the two former the most finished acting can
hardly redeem from silliness In Virginias
there is not a single character which is any-
thing more than a copy ; and the madness of
Virginius at the end is surely forced and im-
probable.
The language of these plays belongs to what
may perhaps be termed conventional poetry.
It is not individual, it is not local, it is not
chronological, it is not natural. We can refer
it to no particular state of society, and to no
particular period of time. It is as unlike the
language of real life as the actor in his tragic
costume is unlike his real self. By excluding
that minuteness necessary to reality, Mr.
Knowles helped to give popularity to a school
which has been much indebted to him, though
it has never acknowledged its obligations.
There is great similarity between Mr. Knowles
and many of our contemporary poets ; they-
resemble each other in an instinctive shrink-
ing from the grasp of those realities which
are the touchstones of masculine genius ;
but the much more sensitive and delicate
poetical faculty of other writers has caused
the resemblance to be partially overlooked.
Mr. Knowles's versification is exceedingly
slovenly. He frequently terminates his lines
by a mere connective particle. Witness three
consecutive lines from Virginias .

I shall use this Livius Drusus,
To combat Gracchns, with the very means
That make him to be fear'd. Have patience, and
You'll see my policy. They're coming to
The Forum—Drusus last This shows me my
Exordium.

Were it worth while we could produce scores
of such instances.
These two volumes contain in all sixteen

737

plays, none of which we believe were failures
on the stage. They contain many elegant
passages scattered through them at intervals.
They arc all calculated to draw as long as
the scenery and action retain their novelty,
but not likely ever to become favorites with
the student of dramatic literature. They to e
distinguished by great cleverness, but fail to
convey to our minds the presence of dramatic
genius. We are indebted to the enterprise cf
Mr. Itoutledge for issuing the works of Mr.
Knowles in so convenient a form, but we can-
not think the author will ever hold that rank
among English writers which the publisher
seems inclined to predict for him.

Narrative of an Exploring Voyage up tho
Rivers Kwora and Binue (commonly knows
as the Niger and Tsiichla) in 1854. By

William Balfour Baikie, M.D. R.N.

Lon-

don : Murray.
Narrative of the Niyer, Tshadda, and Binui
Exploration. By T. J. Hutchinson. Lon-
don : Longmans.
THE expedition of which these two volumes
supply us with a record was a modest one.
It consisted of the Pleiad, a screw-steamer, of
260 tons, carrying in all a crew of sixty-seven
persons, of whom only twelve were Europeans.
By contract with Mr. Macgregor Laird, the
Government stipulated that the total expense
should be limited to 5,0001.

The results of the expedition are tolerably
well known. It did not accomplish all that
was anticipated from it. The instructions of
the Government were that the Pleiad should
ascend the Chadda to the point where that
river was crossed at the junction of the Binue
and Faro, by Dr. Barth, in June, 1851 ; that
every effort should be made to obtain informa-
tion concerning Drs. Barth and Vogel; and
that it was desirable that Wukari and Yola,
two important capitals at a short distance
from the shores of the Chadda, should be
visited. Neither of these objects was ful-
filled. But the expedition was nevertheless
remarkable for two circumstances. In the
first place, it ascended the Chadda for between
two and three hundred miles higher than any
previous expedition ; and, secondly, it returned
to Fernando Po on the 4th November, 1854,
after four months' absence, with exactly the
same crew that it had when it sailed. No
serious sickness occurred during the whole
time. Some of the Krumen were slightly
attacked, but their disorder gave way to
medical treatment. Mr. Hutchinson was
surgeon to the expedition. From his expe-
rience of African disease he was peculiarly
fitted for the discharge of his duties, and he
has given in his unpretending narrative rules
for the preservation of health which every
ship visiting the African coast would do well
to attend to. Mr. Hutchinson is sanguine
that with proper precautions " Africa will be-
" come as salubrious a residence for European
" constitutions as any intertropical country."
Were it only for his medical remarks his
narrative would be valuable. The daily ad•
ministration of quinine wine seems to have
been most beneficial

We have no reason to be dissatisfied with
the progress of African discovery since atten-
tion was first turned to it. A quarter of a
century ago the course of the Niger was only
known to us from the observation of Mungo
Park. The Landers in 1830 descended the
eastern branch of the Niger (the Kowara)
and came out at the Nun mouth. Three years
later, the expedition of aldfield and Allen as-
cended the Niger, and, pursuing the eastern
branch (the Chadda), reached Dagbo. The
most unfortunate expedition of 1841 only
reached the confluence of the two rivers. Its
fatal failure checked further enterprise till this
last expedition, in 1834. But in the meantime
extensive explorations were undertaken by
land travel. Richardson paid for his devotion
with his life. Dr. Barth, his companion, was
more fortunate ; he penetrated to Lake Tshad,
and on the I`4,h June, 1851, crossed the broad
stream known as the Binue, or " mother cf
waters," at the point where it was joined by
the Faro (lat. 90 deg. 2 min. N., long. 40 deg.

738

E.) Was this stream a continuation of the
Chadda, and therefore part of the Niger? Was
it navigable from the sea to the point reached
by Dr. Barth, and could it be ascended even
to Lake Tahad ? These were important points.
The voyage of the Pletad has established
beyond doubt the identity of the Chadda and
Binue, and has shown that the river might be
ascen led much higher, as the Pleiad was at
last compelled to return only from scarcity
of fuel.

Dr. Baikie, in the introductory remarks to
his narrative, alludes to the famous Niger Ex-
pedition, which was ushered into the world
with such joyous pomp, and which ended
with a most funereal catastrophe :

The misfortunes met with by these pioneers did not
afford much encouragement for further trials, and no at-
tempt of any magnitude was made until 1841, when the
Government fitted out three steamers, specially built for
the purpose. This expedition was intended to carry out,
besides extended research, various philanthropic but ill-
matured schemes. Its ill success, with its fearful amount
of sickness and loss of life, still fresh in our memories,
tended greatly to confirm the conviction of the deadly
nature of the climate. The Kwora was also ascended by
the late Mr. Beecroft, in one of the steamers of the West
African Company, in 1836, and again by the same gentle.
man in the tEthiope, a steam vessel belonging to Mr.
Jamieson of Liverpool, in 1810 and in 1845, on one of
which occasions he entered and explored the, branch run-
ning by \Vizi.

We recollect, ourselves, as if it were but
yesterday, the excited and exaggerated phi-
lanthropy of the great meeting at Exeter-hall.
We recal, also, how impulsively Sir Robert
Peel entered into the project, and we remember
his complacent smiles and zealous co-operation
on that occasion. Chance threw us into close
proximity with that eminent person on that
day, and we could not help being struck with
the oddity of his tardy enthusiasm for the
negro, after the guarded part which he had
taken about the blacks in the days when
Wilberforce and Henry Brougham were
haranguing on the African question.
The command of the Pleiad was to have
been intrusted to Mr. Beecroft, but as he
died before the vessel reached Africa, Dr.
Baikie, as the senior officer, took the com-
mand. He complains that he was ill-
seconded, and makes grave charges against
the sailing master, Mr. Taylor, who, he asserts,
threw all possible obstacles in the way of the
Pleiad's progress. But for this unfortunate
circumstance the expedition might have
proved more successful than it did.
On the Bth July the Pleiad left Fernando
Po, and on the 4th August arrived at the con-
fluence of the Chadda and Kowara. (We wish
some rule could be adopted for the spelling of
these proper names, as now every writer
adopts his own system of orthography.) On
their passage up the Niger they were well re-
ceived, and saw great capabilities of trade.
Mr. Hutchinson visited the site of the " model
farm" established by the 1841 expedition:—

We landed at two different places between the site of
the model•farm and the river, but found the brushwood so
impenetrable, and no pathway visible, that we were
obliged to retrace our steps to the boat. No traces of cul-
tivation or human habitation are perceptible on the ground
where the model-farm once stood.
A little higher up the river the party landed,
and obtained a splendid view of the surround-
ing country :

We soon spied ont a narrow pathway, at the end of which
a canoe was lying, and, following this, we scrambled up
the road to the little village, from which, when turning
round, a view burst upon us that it is in vain for me to
attempt describing as I felt its beauty. Far away behind
Igbegbe stretches an immense extent of inhabited country,
bounded below by the uppermost of the Kong mountains,
and above by a range that extends up the Tshadda to
nearly opposite Dagbo—the meeting of the waters is be-
neath our feet—many little islands dotted about—Mounts
Patteh and Stirling behind us—those of Franklin, Soracte,
and St. Michael's down the river—the Adelaide range be-
tween the Kwarra and Tshadda—and the magnificent
stream rolling down in such tranquil solemn grandeur,
that I could gaze upon the whole scene for hours. The
atmosphere was delightfully cool, and though the little
village contained only about a dozen houses, them was a
small brewery in one of them, a pit of about three feet in
circumference for dyeing cloths, and many rolls of indigo
about the size of cricket-balls, in a calabash outside the
door of one house.

The confluence is admirably adapted for a
trading station. lgbegbe is the principal
African town, and with encouragement would
soon rise to commercial importance. We
quote Dr. Baikic :
Trade was now going briskly on. Some fine tusks were
offered, but at very high prices; fowls, eggs, goats, and

THE PRESS.

yams were in abundance, and fair tobacco was purchased
at the rate of eleven pounds weight for 1,000 cowries.

The town is situated close to the river, on gently sloping
ground, at the base of a ratify of hills, and is from twenty
to fifty or sixty feet above the highest level of the water.
The market was now nearly over, and we only found in it
some yams and other vegetables, with a little tobacco,
cotton, and a pink coloured silky-looking material, upon
which they set considerable value. Behind are large
fields of maize, among which I found many unshapely
erupted granitic•looking blocks, some curiously piled on
each other. The number of Baobab•trees here is very
great, their thick oak-like trunks and spreading foliage
being very striking.
Mr. Hutchinson devotes some pages to an
account of the Filatahs, the predominant race
in this part of Africa, and notices some curi-
ous facts going far to establish a relationship
between them and the original inhabitants of
Britain:—

A paper was read at the soiree of the Historic Society,
at the close of last year's meeting of the British Associa-
tion, in Liverpool, by Mr. Wright, M.A., F.S.A., upon the
Fanssett antiquities—a collection made by the Rev.
Bryan Fanssett, of Heppington, near Canterbury, and
which had been gathered from the graves of our fore-
fathers, who existed in this country in a pre•Christian
period. Mr. Wright observes :—" In the case of a man we
almost always find above the right shoulder the iron head
of a spear; and in general we may trace, by the colour of
the earth, the decayed wood of the shaft, until near the
foot of the skeleton lies the iron spiked ferule which ter-
minated it at the other end. We sometimes meet with
one or more smaller heads of javelins or arrows. Closer to
the side of the skeleton lies usually a long iron broad-
sword, not much unlike the claymore of the Scottish High-
landers, of which it is probably the type "—the very
weapons of warfare that are at this day used by all the
Filatah nations with whom we came in contact on our
voyage—the spear with ita iron•spiked ferule, the javelins
and arrows of different patterns in their blades, and the
double eged Houssa sword, manufactured by themselves,
amongst tribes who never until our recent visit looked
on the face of a European, and could not have received
instructions in armoury fabrication from any so-called
civilised nation.

Mr. Wright goes on :—" Another article peculiarly cha-
ractetistic of the Saxon interments is the knife, the length
of which is genet sly about five or six inches, although at
times it extends from ten to eleven inches, and from its
shape it must have been a very formidable weapon, inde-
pendent of its utility for other purposes."
The Filatahs have two-edged knives of various lengths,
used as weapons of self-defence as well as for cutting in-
struments. Some are carried openly in the hand ; some
protected by a sheath which passes under the left arm,
and is fastened to the hand by a cincture of strong leather
that envelopes the wrist. The string of beads that is
often found round the neck of a man in the Anglo-Saxon
graves ; the articles of pottery dug up from them ; and
even the cowrie shells (articles which are found only on
the shores of the Pacific), have all their prototypes in our
day amongst the Filatahs!

At Dagbo, "a miserable little village " on
the north shore of the Chadda, the expedition
reached the limits of previous discovery.
Henceforth the Pleiad ploughed waters which
hadj never borne a European bark before,
and the explorers went among people who had
never yet beheld a white face. For a time the
experience of the voyagers was extremely
favorable. Apokko is noticed by Mr. Hutchin-
son as "the neatest little African village I had
"ever put my foot into." The people were
friendly, and the king courteous :

He expressed his delight at seeing white men for the
first time—was glad of our coming for trade, and, address.
ing one of his women in the place, a fine goat was brought
into us as a dash in a few minutes, with five scrivelloes,
which were subsequently bought on board the ship.
When our conference was over, he most courteously
walked down to the beach with us—an instance of civility
I have never witnessed before in an African chief, and
which, with the delight of the inhabitants in seeing us,
the absence of all rudeness and familiarity, impressed
me very agreeably with the people of Apokko.

Some fifty miles higher up, the land on the
north shore was mountainous, and to a chain
of heights the name of Ellesmere Range was
given. Near a little town (Anyashi) some
splendid vegetation was witnessed

In a ravine between the town and Mount Herbert is
the most luxuriant vegetation. All the trees were
covered with mantillas of creeping plants, that wove a
complete veil over their tops, and then hanging in grace-
ful festoons, ornamented here and there with blue and
yellow blossoms, gave the whole an appearance of gor-
geous arborescence.

At the towns of Gandiko and Gankera pleas-
ing signs of civilisation were discerned :

There is an immense tract of land here devoted to
agricultural purposes. Between Gandiko and Gsnkera,
a neighbouring town, over which Amee's brother Gorakee
presides, not a single inch of ground is uncultivated for a
walk of nearly a mile in length. The latter town is larger
than Gandiko, and is a paragon of neatness in all its
streets—its ovoid and quadrangular places—in the centre
of which many trees are nurtured, and spaces paled in
for mats to be laid upon. French beans are growing as

SAT URDAY,

luxuriantly against the palisading outside the houses, as,
though they were under the fostering hand of the head
gardener at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. Three of the
finest Arab horses I have ever seen were in stables at
Gankem ; and iu one of the stables was a large shield
to protect horse and rider from the arrows of an enemy.

At this point of their voyage, the explorers
learnt with great satisfaction that the stream
was here called the Binue, thus identifying it.
with the river crossed by Dr. Barth. At
Zhibu, a distance of about two hundred miles
above Oldfield and Allen's furthest point, the
people were much inclined to trade. 'Ali.
Hutchinson says:—

In the course of the day I bought nearly seven hundred
pounds weight of ivory, and the article chiefly demanded
for it was white cloth, which is used to make turbans by
the mallams.

Such incidents are important, as showing the
capabilities for trade which exist in the coun-
tries bordering the river. The town of Ha-
marrua was situated some distance inland, but
the voyagers paid it a visit :

Our road lay through a country, the richest in loamy
soil I have ever travelled over, where fields of rice and
Indian corn varied the aspect with herbs and shrubs of
the richest bloom and foliage—set off by the flying about
of birds of the most gorgeous plumage—through plains
where the grass grew so high and so luxuriantly, that at
times it met over our heads when on horseback.

This circumstance of the high Guinea grass
makes a noticeable feature in the narratives of
the first Portuguese discoverers of the country.
The visitors slept at Hamarrua, where they
were courteously received. The ladies were
the most pleasing specimens of the negro race
they had yet seen :

His Majesty sent us up a luxurious breakfast of several
African dishes, and a large calabash of fresh milk, the
greatest treat of all. During our confinement to the
house, in consequence of the rain, we had many visiters,
some wanting to sell straw-plaited doyleys, beautifully
dyed, spears, swords, brass and copper rings. The heavy
wet was a great obstacle in the way of my seeing the
town as I desired; a.id, as our time was limited, we had
to send many messages to the Sultan, requesting that he
would give us audience, as we purposed returning to the
ship this night. It was considerably after noon when we
proceeded to the palace. Passing through the streets we
saw many of the softer sex in small groups, here aim
there, gazing at us, not with looks of impertinent curiosity,
but with a simple expression of wonderment, which gale
to their faces an indescribable charm. If any one wi I
allow beauty to exist amongst African women, I shall
maintain against all comers, that it does exist amongst
the ladies at Hamarrua. Half Arab and half negro, their
countenances of a brozen hue have a classical outline of
such charming features as we are in the habit of associa-
ting with Greek models. And with this there was some-
thing of a beaming expression of kindliness that pleased
me very much—a suavity of trusting gentleness, com-
bined with a slight tint of joyfulness, that brought to my
mind the beautiful thought of L. E. L., of "half smiles,
born of nu cause but the very buoyancy of inward glad-
ness." Dressed in their blue country cloths, and their
hair ornamented in a very pleasing style, without any
attempt at belleishness, they gave me a very superior
idea above what I had hitherto considered African ladies
to be.

Dr. Baikie says of the natives :
In appearance they are far removed from the negro, and
the profile is frequently nearly European, and their skins
never black, are at times very pale•coloured. They have
not a muscular look, nor are they of fall flesh. Their
stature is rather above the average ; and their long, spare-
made limbs seem well adapted for activity and endurance
of fatigue. Their foreheads are high, and at times expan-
sivei ; the features long, and the chin pointed ; the nose s
straight, or at times almost aquiline; the usually blue expres-
sive eye, has a wandering, restless cast; while the fipv,
which are inclined to be thick, exhibit the only marked
Ethiopic affinity. They occupy a high place in the scale
of intelligence and quickness, and in commercial concerns
they are keen and active. Their manners appeared to us,
after meeting with so many rude tribes, cultivated and
pleasing, and their persons were kept tolerably clean.
Most of the men wear Lobes, almost all have turbans, straw
hats, or some kind of headdress, and many sport loose
trousers.

At Hamarrua more ivory was bought. But,
unfortunately, the expedition, through failure
of fuel, was unable to proceed muck farther
The Pleiad was brought to anchor, and Dr.
Baikie left the steamer to ascend the river as
high as he could in the gig of the vessel. The
Doctor found the people moro rude as he pro-
ceeded, and, beyond making an advance of
some thirty miles, accomplished no object.
During his absence the Pleiad began to
descend the river, under an apprehension that
the water was sinking. It does not appear
that this was the case ; and the Doctor com-
ments with what appears just severity on the
decision adopted in his absence, and the peril
to which it exposed him.

In the return voyage there is not less ad-
venture than in the ascent of the river, but it

AUGUST 2, 1856.

is sufficient here to note the highest point
reached, and to glance at the results of the
voyage.
The voyagers, as a general rule, found the
natives friendly, and strongly inclined to
trade. The river-bordering countries possess
resources of inexhaustible natural wealth, if
they could be developed. The cotton-tree was
abundant; cam-wood was plentiful palm oil
could be produced without limit; and it
seemed probable that immense quantities of
ivory could be procured as soon as a regular
trade sprang up. At Arufo some specimens
of lead ore were obtained ; it contained six-
teen hundred of lead and three ounces of flue
silver to the ton of twenty hundred weight,
It is said to be in abundance, and to be
found near the surface." At Igbegbe, at
the confluence, ivory, tobacco, shea-butter.
and red pepper were purchased; but the
agent was so tied down as to price that he
could not make a fair offer for commodities.
On their return voyage, they attended the
market at Igbegbe, and heard many African
tongues :
Among articles for sale we noted palm oil, palm-nut oil,
shea-butter, cotton, cloths, mats, bags, calabashes, pepper,
cam-wood, magnificent yams, tomatos, papaws, plantains,
bananas, corn, beer. We also visited a blacksmith's shop,
and inspected a brewery of rather a simple description.
The decks of the Pleied were covered with traders and
their gear, and active trade went on, the women proving
the keenest hands.

--- -
It may be doubtful whether purely trading
expeditions up the Niger would at present
answer; but there can be no doubt that the
trading capabilities of Central Africa are in-
exhaustible, and that could a trade be once
established it would very soon grow in im-
portance and be self-sustaining. Mr. Hutchin-
son points to the cheering fact, that of palm-
oil alone—

I►uring the past year 27,000 tons were imported into
Liverpool alone, and above 31,000 tons, the aggregate
atnount from Western Africa, into the different ports of
the United Kingdom. Yet this amount may be doubled,
if not trebled, by the employment of people in the inner
country for its manufacture, as I have seen the tree
from which the palm•nut is obtained grow as far up as
Shiro, a distance of 400 miles from the mouth of the

The great obstacle to the growth of produc-
tive industry and of legitimate trade in Africa
is the slave trade. This odious traffic operates
prejudicially iu three ways at least:—First it
keeps the native States at war with each other,
and thus sinks them into deeper barbarism ;
secondly, it seems more profitable than any
other kind of trade, and is therefore chosen
in preference ; and, thirdly, it continually
diminishes the productive power of the
country by taking away its living strength.

How is this traffic to be best abolished?
We have tried repressive measures in vain.
In his very sensible remarks on this subject,
Mr. Hutchinson shows that an enormous sum
is annually paid by Great Britain to maintain
the African blockading squadron, that hun-
dreds of valuable lives are sacrificed in the
effort, and that, after all, the only effect is
slightly to advance the price of slaves by in-
creasing the risks of the trade. Mr. Hutchin•
son says:—

The external slave trade will be only put an end to
when the chiefs and masters in Africa are taught and
understand how far more profitably to themselves they
can exercise slave labour in the cultivation of their soil,
than by selling it; they will soon be brought to see that
it is not consistent with common sense transporting
away the native Africans to Brazil, to cultivate and
manufacture sugar—to America, to grow and pick cotton
—to Cuba, to aid in the tilling of tobacco, when the very
same products can be obtained from their own ground at
home. With this will be generated also a desire and a
power amongst the slaves to work for their own emanci-
pation, of their anxiety to do which I have evidence in a
fact communicated to me by the Rev. ➢lr. Crowther, that
several hundred slaves have so purchased their liberty at
Abbeokuta. The immense increase in palm-oil, and other
exports from Africa, during the past ten years, will clearly
disprove the fallacy that the native Africans are averse to
labour. At. Sierra Leone, at Akkra, at Lagos, and at Old
Calabar, I have met negroes thirsting for the knowledge
to turn the resources of their districts into the proper
channel ; but, unfortunately, no aid was nigh to give in•
struction to these aspiring men.

It becomes, then, a practical question of the
greatest moment whether a small portion of
that sum expended on the Wcst African
squadron might not be advantageously devoted
to the opening up and encouragement of
regular trade in Central Africa. This expedi-
tion cost 0,0001. Were two such expeditions