The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-08-23
VOL. V.-NO. 10.

) seems shut up as eliectually against the
advances of civilization as if il were upon
another planet! Indeed, the Mountains
of the Moon would be subject to a more
accurate observation, were they situated
upon the satellite from which they derive
their name. The efforts of civilized ira
vellers have been for centuries directed to
the recesses of this continent, yet four
iifths of it are blank upon our maps. Its
whole centre is one broad UNEMPLOYED re-
gon, and the information obtained by re-
cent travellers is Of the mos, aggravating
kind showing us mines of wealth which
it is impossible 10 work. Before giving
the results Of these discoveries, let us look
upon Africa as the world has known it,
and As may be familiar to most of our
readers. Egypt, an old and WORKOUT
country, in lis antiquities one of the mos.
interesting places on The continent, occu-
pies small portion of its northeast cor.
ner. The river Nile has been explored to
It's sources, by Bruce and other travellers,
who have given us some curious facts.
The Barbary states occupy the northern
portion bordering on the Mediterranean.
South Of this, and stretching from the Nile
TO the Atlantic, is the great desert of Ia
hara. Along the whole western coast are
small establishments of factories, for trade
in slaves, gold dust, ivory, palm oil, and
other vegetable productions. This trade
has been nearly mnnopolized by the Eng
lish until lately; but now American en-
terprize has taken large portion of it out
of their hands. On this coast are the two
settlements of Sierra Leone and Liberia,
established as colonies for emancpated
slaves but both, we have reason to be-
lieve, are in wreched condition. The
English have possession at the Cape of
Good Hope. On the eastern shore, there
are anumber Of independent sovereignties,
which carry on a limited trade. The
lmaum of Muscat is prince of consider
liberality and enterprise. Quite recently,
the English have made settlement. at
Alden, near the mouth of the Red Sea.
Having once obtained loothold, they,
English like, began TO push about them
and one of their first discoveries was RI
yer, where none was marked upon any
chart, and upon this they steamed three
hundred miles, without finding the least
obstruction.
Having now passed round this CONT
nent, let us look into the interior. For
half a century, the English government
have been eXpending lives and treasure in
a partial exploration. They have found
that this whole tract of country is one of
amazing fertility and beauty, Astounding in
gold, ivory, and all sorts Of tropical vege-
talon. There are hundreds of woods,
invaluable for dyeing and architectural
purposes, not found in other portions of
the world. Through it for thousands Of
miles sweeps river, from three to six
miles broad, with clear water and of un-
passable depth, flowing on at the rate of
two or three miles an hour, without rock,
shoa, or snag to interrupt its navigation.
Other rivers pour into this tributary wa
tiers of such volume as must have requr-
ed hundreds of miles to be collected, vet
the seem ccarcely to enlarge it. This ri
yer pours its waters into the Atlantic
ocean, through the most magnificent
delta in the world, consisting of perhaps
a hundred mouths, extending probably
500 miles along the coast, and mostly
broad, deep, aud nayigable for steamboats,.
Upon this river are scattered cities, some
of which are estimated TO contain million
of inhabitants and the whole country
teens with dense population. For in
the interior, in the very heart OF this con-
tinent, is nation in an advanced state of
civilization. The grandeur and beauty
iof portions Of the country through which
the Niger makes It's sweeping circuit, are
indescribable. In many places its banks
rise boldly a thousand feet, ihickly COW
cred with the richest vegetation of tropi-
cal clmes. But all this vast and sublime
country, this scene Of rich fertility and
romantic beauty, is apparently thrust out
for ever from the rest of the world. 1t is
the negro's sole possession. He need
not fear the incursions of the white man
there for over this whole lovely country
br9ods one dread malaria, death. In ex-
petition after expedition, sent out from
the English port of the Island OF Assem-
sion, not one white man in ten has ever
returned alive, all have fallen victims to
this seeming beautiful but awful climate.
1t seems impossible for any Englishman
to breathe that air. SO dreadful is it, So
small the chance Of life, that, cnmi-
nails IN Enplanl have heen offered Darton