Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-08-13
PROGRESS OF DISCOVERIES IN THE INTERIOR
OF AFRICA

OF AFRICA
The Colonization Herald states that the routes through
southern Africa laid down by Messrs OswELL and
LIVINGSTON have been turned to by enterprsng
British traders who, following up their traces have re-
discovered Lake Ngam Of the existence Of which
few we're quite skepca upon the first announcement of
its discovery party of traders have thoroughly
pored its shores and having walked entirely roundt find
to be sixty miles in length and fourteen in breadth
More than this they have ascertaned that this lake. with
It's numerous tributary streams presents facilities for
large network Of inland navigation
Mr. Campbell, one of the traders who made these
Plorauons, speaks in letter giving account Of his
adventures OF the natives living the borders of the
lake as remarkably intelligent These natives informed
him that there was another lake. many times larger than
Lake sam great way off, in northweserly direction
and also range of lofty mountains running north and
south to very great distance They also spoke of thr
teen large rivers within distance of about four hundred
miles north of the Zembeze
After making the circuit of this lake, the party Of
traders assembled the river Teouge large stream flowing
into the western sde in the expectation of meeting and
doing business with Lebee, chief of powerful Mahoka
tribe, Of whom they had heard much After proceeding
upwards of hundred and Fifty miles breaking new
ground at every STEP their progress last arrested
by Of poisonous ies whose attacks were fatal TO
and and most reluctantly they their
steps to the lake. From this point their wagons were con-
yyed by canoes up the river Zonga about three hundred
miles
Mr. Campbell speaks of finding traces every where on
his journey OF Portuguese traders. 1t would seem by
these accounts if the entire district only Just dis
by science has long been known to the slave
dealer Speaking Of the lake district Mr. Campbell says
The Portuguese aaourishng trade here with the
natives for slaves and ivory In exchange they give
guns capy manufactured the barrels being far superior to
muske They also supply the natives with gun
powder red and blue cloths beads and various other minor
articles OF trade They come from settlement the
coast the natives pointing to the northwest from Moram
Town. They come down the Zembezc which in the
far west in and trade at the several towns situated
the banks of the river They take away with immense
numbers of slaves Conquered bcs large quantities
ivory"
Elsewhere the travellers found similar traces of the Por
tuguese savers, but they into contact with
them The before last the savers sent handsome
presents to the chief of the lake district and promised
visit him during the following year but hearing in the
mean time that many legal traders the lake. they
failed to keep their promise In this place. elsewhere
science and humanity go hand in hand science opens up
new heds for legitimate commerce, and legitimate
MERGE puts to fight Illicit and immoral traffic. Mr. Camp
bell adds: ~
Many additions have been lately made to the geography
of this hitherto undiscovered but most interesting region
lucrative trade has been opened and this be indef
ntey extended though not without risk and the endurance Of
great privation."
The Rev. T. J. Bowen, of the Baptist mission at Var
rba Central Africa where he passed nearly two years
and half and who returned this country in January
last for purposes connected with his mission has recently
delivered several lectures in principal cities 1t APP
pears from his observations that the kingdom of Yarrba
or Vouba extends westward to the boundary line Of
Ashanee the southwest and south it is separated
from the Blight of Benin only by the kingdom Of Dahoney
and the Taboo country 1t has population of nearly
million. The people, though black, have long straight
hair and rather European countenances. The appear
ance of the Country is most beautiful and although pre-
pared from the accounts of travellers to witness some
thing grand and beautiful still his imagination was far
below the reality The land is elevated fat table,
and not unlike prares and is beautifully diversified
with pleasant streams Of excellent water There
swamps marshes and the temperature of the climate
from rs to So deg he has known it be as high as
30 but never 100 notwithstanding the statements of ira
velers The products gum, spices, dye stus valu
able woods ivory, gold palm OIL Shea butter &c. Not
withstandng the want Of direct trade with the whites
the exports of Central Africa amount to many millions Of
dollars annually. Mr.. B. said he saw no reason why
steamers should not navigate the Niger Cola and trbu
tares and such enterprise should be established
instead of the products of the country being taken
the desert in the transportation would be done
by these boats. This would be immensely remunera-
tive business and is well worthy the attention Of our
merchants The rivers Niger and Cola are navgabe for
many hundreds Of miles.
Mr. Bowen gave illustrations of the ingual pec
ares OF the natives of Central Africa The nha-
biting Yarrba, Foula, and Nuf speak kindred tongues
having little or no affinity, however with the languages
OF other black nations. The Yarrba dialect is not diff
cult OF requirement being derived from less than
hundred and fifty roots betteral words, yet it in
cudes an abundance of well calculated to express
the meaning of Gospel phrases.
The native of farrba boast with even a greater
degree OF literal truth than the citizens Of countries where
the English common law prevails, that severy mans
house is his CASTLE" for the king himself cannot enter
house, even to arrest criminal without the consent of
the head of the family. One peculiar institution of this
singular people is the OJon, association connected
with the Government administering justice and execut
ing the laws but taking no part in legislation This So
clety conducts its proceedings in sort Of Soomons
pie consisting of three courts to only of which the
public are admitted the interior being reserved for the
nuuuqt mnrn haru ~ than