Baltimore commercial journal, and Lyford's price-current. [volume] (Baltimore, Md) 1840-1849, 1847-01-30
1876
From HUNTS Merchants Magazine.
COMMERCE WITH THE EASTERN COAST

COMMERCE WITH THE EASTERN COAST
OF AFRICA.
The highlands included betwixt Ably ssina and the
eouator are unGue sonably among the most interest
inc in Africa whether viewed with reference 10
their climate their SOIL their productions, or iheir
population. When the Ethionc empire extended It's
sw az over the greater part oil the eastern NORM 'hey
doubtless supplied myrrh and irankncense to the
civilized portions of the globe, together with the
"sweet cane, mentioned by the prophets lSalah and
Jeremiah as being brought ''from a far country"
The slave caravan still affords limited outlet to
their rich produce; but the people gnoran, and ma
turalIy indolent, arc without protection and they
possess no stimulus 10 industry Vice alone honrishes
among them, and their fair country forms the very
hot bed of the slave trade. Hence arise wars aud
predatory violence, and hence the injustice aud OPP
preston which sweep the fields with DISSOLUTION
bind in letters the sturdy children OF the SOIL ana
cover the population with every sorrow, win Ia
mentaon, and mourning and wo"
In early times, as early probably as the days OF
Moses, the authority Of Egypt extended deep INTO
the recesses of Africa and there is reason TO bceVe
al later dates far into those countries 10 the south
ward Of Abyssiuia, which are accessible from the
shores of the Indian Ocean. The eastern coast from
beyond the Straits Of Babel Mande, in all probability
as far south as Sofala, the Ophr OF Solomon, was well
known 10 the enterprsing merchants Uf Tyre and 10
the sovereies Of Judca from the days oil The wise son
of David downward. In still later periods, the con
quering Arabs, when they had become followers OF
the false prophet extended their sway over all ms
coast as far as the twenty fifth degree OF south lat
tude. The remains Of their power, Of their compa-
rative civilization and Of their religion are found
throughout TO the present day; and notwithstanding
that their rule had greatly declined when Inc roru
guese discovered these parts Jour hundred years ago.
twas still strong and extensive, and constant COM
mercial intercourse maintained with India.
No portion of the African continent has, however,
excited less modern interest than the eastern coast
and this singular fact must, IN principal measure
be attributed the extreme Jealousy win when me
Portuguese have guarded lis approach, and wl'nhen
the limited information gained since the days OF Fasco
D,I lhn nts-
tropoIIs have been wasted in wars with the native
powers and the relations OF commerce on every occa
sion postponed for those Of conquest and dominion
The liberal spirit Of the government the monsirous
cruelty of the traffic, and the nature OF the system
parsued both civil and ccclcsiastic, have mad the
natural effect of degrading those maritime tribes
placed in immediate juXtaposition with the white
settlers, and Of cfectually repelIng The more spirit
cd and indus inhabitants OF the highlands, whose
prudence and independence have b'ftied attempted
inroads. Many fair seat Of peace and plenty, VIII
ated by the operation Of the slave trade, has been
converted into a theatre of and bloodshed; aud
the once brilliant establishments reared by the lords
of India and Guinea, now scarcely capable oil resist
ing the attacks of ndisciplmed barb'rIas, here as
elsewhere, exhibit but the wreck and shadow oil thelr
former yice-Tegal splcndor.
Although free 10 all nations, the eastern coast from
Sofala Cape Guadufoi, has in later years been it
tie freguened by any, save the enterprIsng AmerI-
can, whose spanglcd banner 10 oe seen waving
to the breeze in parts where others oud not dclgn
TO traffic; and who, being thus the pioneer 10 new
countries, eaps the lucrative harvest winch they are
almost sure to afford. English ships from India have
occasionally visited the southern ports Tor cargoes OF
ivory and ambergrs, but the trade being yet in It's
infancy, admitted Of little routine; and in the alb
seuce of any rival, the Imam Of Muscat is, with his
daily increasing territories, fast establishing lucra
tive monopoly, from Mombas and Zanzibar
In NEST of the interior countries lying opposite 10
this coast TO the south Of Shoa the people unite with
inordnate passion for trnkets and tnery degree
of wealth which must favor an extensive sale oil Eu-
t. f'lHl Ilt
Koocha, and Susa, especially, glass ware false jew
elry beads cutlery, blue Calico long cloth, chintz,
and other linen manufactures, are in universal de-
maDd. That their wants are neither lew nor 'rinihg
may be satisfactorily ascertaincd from the TACT that
the sum Of 500 900, the produce OF the slave trade
from the ports Of Berbera, Zeya, Taura, and Mas
sowah is only one item of the total amount annually
invested in various foreign goods and manufactures,
which are readily disposed Of even al the present
price of the monopoist; who being generally ira
der OF very limited capital, may be conc uded 10
drive extremely hard bargain for his luxurious
wares.
Iwould be idle TO speculate upon the hidden irea
sures that may be in for that adventurous spirit
who shall successfully perform the quest into these
coy regons-for time and enterprise can alone reveal
them. But it is notorious that gold and gold dus
ivory civet and ostrich feathers, pcrles, spices,f
wax and precious gums, form part OF the Iading ol
every slave caravan, notwithstanding that tedious
transport over long and circutous route presents
many serious difficulties; and that the oyerreachlng
disposition Of the Indian Bantam and of the Arab
merchant, who principally divide the spoIis on the
coast of Abyssinia, offer a very far from adequate
reimbursement for the toll and labor oil transPorta-
ton.
No quarter Of the globe abounds to greater extent
in vegetable and mineral productions than tropical
Africa; and in the populous fertile and saiuorious
portions lying Immediately north oil the equator, The
very highest capabilities are presented for The en-
poyment of capital, and the development OF British
industry Coal has already BEEN found, though at
too great distance inland TO render OF any service
Tho IDtihf
less exists in positions The most favorable Tor the
supply of the steamers employed IN the navigation
of the Red Sea. Cotton OF quality unrlralicd IN
the whole world, is everywhere weed aud might
be cultivated TO any requisite extent. The Coffee |
which is sold in Arabia the produce OF Mocha, is
chiefly Of wild African growth; and that species OF
the tea pantt which is used by the lower orders Of
The Chinese fourshcs SO widely, aud with so little
care that the climate TO which 1t is indigenous ould
doubtless be found well adapted for the hgher-avor-
ed aud delicate species SO priced Tor foreign ex-
portaton.
goods and furnish raw material IN re-
turn Mercantile interests the eastern coast might
therefore quickly be advanced By teaching the ma
tives 10 have artificial wants, aud then instrucing
them in what manner those wants may be supplied
through the cultivated productions of the soil. The
present is the moment which 10 essay this; aud SO
field for enterprise and speculation ought
no longer 10 be neglected or overlooked. he posi-.
ton of the cultv atcd tribes lnland the love oil
finery displayed by all, the climate, the productions
the capabilities, the presumed navisabe access 10
the interior the contguty British Indian POSSES
sons, and the proximity Of some OF the finest har-
bors in the world, all combine inducements to'1he
merchant who, at the hands even Of the rudcst ma
iion may be certain of cordial welcome.
If, at a very moderate calculation, sum f'iling
little short Of $500 900, be annually invested IN
European or American goodsS TO supply the wants ol
Lord Brougham's Colonial Policy
tGingcr exported i'll great quantities from Gurague;
nd nil
combines the favor of the canawaY with that OF the car
damon.
Chaat is shrub very extensively cultivated both in
Shoa and countries adjacent II is in general use
iuhn q all