The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-04-27
ebansbiIe Daily sonrnal.
The Interior of Africa.

ne interior OF africa.
The new volume Of African Travels,
TT. Bowen, Through whose instru-
'ntality bill for the exploration Of the
yer Niger was recently introduced in
Congress, just published in Charles
!, 3. o., is one OF much interest, and is
III calculated to create a public con-
:tion in this country, not of the prac-
ability of establishing commercial re-
ions with the interior tribes of Africa,
1opening the resources Of that compar-
yely unknown quarter of the globe,
t Of its expediency. Mr.. Bowen has
1iliarized' himself with his subject,
extensive explorations and personal
servations; and argues strongly in ia
Of fostering African commerce, as the
,neer of civilization and social advance
mt in that dark continent. With re-
ID to colonization, Mr.. B. entertains
most sanguine expectations. Re-
-ses may be experienced, but the be-
fis expressed, that "the perpetuation
/ ultimate triumph of colonization and
Sslons are guaranteed by moral and
.ial causes. which are as irresistible as
,physica. laws Of nature;;" and Of the
onization scheme, as now identified
IN Liberia, he "feels authorized to en-
tain large hopes of the future" The
ives around and among the colonists
barberous, but they are moving on
rd toward civilization, and this motion
Itch is already becoming remarkable,
more likely to be accelerated than re-
'ded.
But the people Of Soudan, inhabiting
, interior, are regarded as atfording, at
S time, the most hopeful field of ef-
{, as they are pronounced more civ.
ed and in all respects superior to those
the Western coast. The heavily
oded country of Western Africa,
recover, is far more unhealthy than
open and elevated plains Of the in
Tor. 1t is therefore proposed to run
of missionary stations from Lagos,
the Blight Of Benin, directly through
Yoruba country. to the remote inte-
r, and there to extend missionary OPP
ton on all sides, in healthy climate
ong semi-civilzed people. To aid in
upleting the road, the profits that may
rue to the author, from the present
ume, have been appropriated. Be-
es station already planted at Lagos,
ire are two others located 120 and 10
les inland, respectively. And it is in
aalf of this fertile and promising coun-
through the heart oil which the great
sr Niger flows, that the project of an
lericau steam exploring expedition
S recently introduced to our national
yislature- No part of the Yoruba
lgdom is much more than hundred
les from the sea ON one side, and the
ger on the other. This favorable pc
ion, its healthfulness and the facility
IA which roads may DC constructed,
combined to make it one of the most
portant portions Of the African CONT
ut. Mr.. Bowen says, if colonized by
ilized blacks from America, and prop
y conducted, it would soon command
trade OF all Central Africa, to which
s the natural key. Almost the whole
Yorube is an open prairie, scattered
er with small trees and occasionly
ssts on the rivers. The Easterly por-
n. bordering on the Niger, is almost
,heut inhabitants, Chose who former
occupied it having been driven off by
tsssiie tribe but is represented as a
" fine country, capable of'giving am
sessenance to 10000 colonists. and
ssessing unusual advantages in regard
soil, climate and facilities for traffic
people are not idolaters, but worship
tain imaginary creatures which they
rard as mediators between man and
Diety. They are far in advance OF
I. Guinea negroes in humanity and civ
alton. Including the surrounding
oes Of the same family, it is estimated
It three million people speak the Yor-
language. They have several i'm
.tant towns, of which Llorrin and Iba-
have each 10000 inhabitants; Abb.
ssuta, 10000; and there are 16 other
vns which have apopulation varying
IN 10000, to 10000. There are also
merous smaller towns. containing
IN one to ten thousand people.
The commercial Importance of the
9ulation, inhabiting country Of mex
ustibls fertility, is beginning to be rec
nized, as is evinced by the rapidly In.
~. ~ tho NVactary, cnacf