The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-06-14
From the South. Western Baptist.
The Kingdom of YOruba.

| UcOprapuSrS nave given lllc HtlHlc VI NN".'''-
Africa. 1t lies between the river Niger and At
lantic ocean, about 800 miles East of Liberia
Between Yoruba and the sea are the lketu, Egg-
ba and Otta Tribes who sneak dialects OF the same
language.
Yoruba is traverscd by the Kong mountains,
which are here considerably diminished i'll height
and divided into several distinct chains, with ter
races of undulating table lands between them
The rocks are granite with a little trap white
marble, &C., iron ore is abundant but no other
metal has been discovered. The country is gen
orally covered with sparsely wooded pralrles, and
watered by numerous streams. There Is no
swamp and the soil is firm in the wetteSt wealth
er. Owing to the elevation and openncss OF the
country, the climate is pleasant. The thernom-
eter ranges from Is deg. to s. deg and seldom
rises above 90 in the hottest times. There are
two rainy seasons, one in the spring and the
other in fall. The summer is pleasant with oc-
casionA showers; the winter months are the
hottest season OF the year, and nearly destitute
of rain. From this cause vegetation ceases. to
grow and enjoys a season of repose. The dry
grass on the prairies is generally burnt oil IN
February. Rain begins to fall early in March.
The animals of Yoruba are elephants, lions,
leopards, bufaloes, antelopcs, wild hogs, DC:
There are 10 deer in Africa. The domestic ami
mails are the same as our own. In that climate
sheep have no wool but arc smooth as goats
The pigs appear to be the same known IN this
country as the Guinea breed.
There is no tree or shrub common to Ioruba
and the United States, except the grape vine
Some of the herbaceous plants are the same as
| ,,1I, IN .bo f,rnnc ord ahout towns
where there are jamestown weeds, purslan crab
grass, &c. The products Of the farm are In
dian corn, cow peas, beans, onions, sweet po-
tatoes, yams DC. Wheat is unknown here,
but grows in Hausa east of the Niger. Among
the ornamental shrubs and trees are cape.jcss.-
mine, the true jasmine vine, mimosas, olcanders,
and some Others not yet introduced into this
country.
The population of Yoruba may be estimated
at ten persons to the square mile. They live cx-
clusively in towns some Of which are great cities
measuring from ten to twelve miles in circuit
All the towns are surrounded by walls, and the
gates are constantly watched. The houses are
made of clay, one story high, very low, and cov-
middle of the house and the doors OF the numerous
| open l'idHLo 'AiA
round the yard, and is covered by the prcjlc-
tion of the roof The yard is entered by large
gate with heavy shutters. This gate is defcn-
dcd by charms and amulets, and each room is
usually provided with the same means Ct OBJ
1 security. As a general thing the streets Of
towns are narrow and crooked but there are
squares shaded with trees where the people hold
their markets.
The Ioruba people have no science. Their
arts are rude and simple. Every man has his
own trade or profession. There are iron smel
ters, black Smiths wood workmen, jewelers. who
make beads ofcornellan and jasper, wcavcrs, tail
ors, fishers, hunters, &c. But the greater part
Of the people arc farmers. They have good
many slaves captured or bought from o:hertrbcs,
and considering that the plow is unknown their
farms are managed with a considerable degree OF
skill. Women do not work in the farms. Their
business is to do house work, to spin thread,
which they sell to the weavcrs, to make earthen
ware, manufacture soap and various kind Of oil,
and have to buy and sell almost everything
which passes through the market. They are
free dealers and sometimes get rich. As might
be expected they are not a little respected by
the other sex, and have their share Of influence.
The Yoruhas have Il code Of morals preserved
in the form of proverbs some Of which are poe
tical. Their government is limited constitu-
tional IN 'narchv, evidently framed with an eye
to balance of power in different departments.
OF course their laws are oral, since they cannot
write, but they have laws both civil and criminal
which do credit to the nation; on the whole they
are probably among the most honest, chaste and
amiablc fall the hcathcn nations. Withal they
are not blinded with self conccit, but feel that
they are ignorant and often deem desirous to
learn.
The greatest sin Of the people in this region
is love Of war. [ have seen whole countries
and large cities which had been utterly dcpopu.
lated by victorious armies. In some parts
kidnappers and robbers are common. In one Of
my journeys two parties of travellers were at
tackled in one day not far from me by these pests
Of Africa l have heard Of ofkidnappcrs who tied
their prisoners and went on i'll search Of more,
but atterward finding it inconvcnient to return
the same way they left their victims to starre in
the woods Human sacrifices are common i'll
some ne ghboring countries and sometimes occur
in Yoruba.
For the most part the people arc poor--too
poor to sustain churches or schools even if they
were planted among them. Yet the country Is
not destitute OF resources. The palm tree is no
less valuable than the cotton or tobacco plant
Africa may produce vast amounts Of several 9TH
er valuable commodities; fwars could cease and
an honest traffic spring up, it would enrich the
country and be no mean item even in the great
commerce of England and America. An indus.
trious civilized people would soon raise Central
Africa to high position among the commercial
countries of the torrid zonc Doubtless the Nj
ger and the Chadda will yet be the high way
for exports and imports which will amount to