American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-11-20
M0RGAN7ONM MONONGALIA Co, VA FRIDAY NOVEMBER Al M7

waste, nor region of malarious swamps.
Within 40 miles of lagos, we emerge
from the forests into an elevated, dry,
and airy country, with an undulating
surface, productive soil, and abundant
streams of pure water. Here there is
no visible cause Of unhealthiness. The
staple productions at present are,
maize, yams, and palm oil. But the
natives raise various other articles, in
Guiding cotton, for their own use, and
in some districts, rice. In Hausa and
Burma they have wheat. Many other
valuable productions, as sugar, coffee,
and spices would soon be introduced by
colonization.
| The future commerce Of Central Af-
RIGA will be very great, and most of it
will pass through or near Yoruba. If
q line of colonial settlements were es-
/ tablished in the vacant districts between
Lagos and Raba, this traffic would be-
gin to be developed at once. There
cannot be less than three millions of
persons on the peninsula tract of coun-
try between the Niger and the sea,
while commercial town on the Niger,
would command the traffic Of many
millions more. These people are not
savages. They need the productions
of our country, and are able to pay for
them. This traffic would enrich the
colony.
The vacant lands which run through
the heart Of Yoruba to Raba, are capa-
bic of sustaining at least one hundred
thousand colonists, even without COM
merce. But commerce would ineyita-
bly, exist, and owing to the character
of the country and people, its growth
would be so rapid, that railroad would
soon be required to compete with the
navigation of the Niger. Happily a
railroad from Lagos to Raba could be
built with unusually small expense
Labor is cheap, there would be no hea-
Wy grading, and the timber for crossing
is exceedingly durable.
Notwithstanding the vacant country
Just mentioned, Yoruba and the neigh
boring kingdoms are quite populous,
and provisions are quite abundant
The natives are kind hearted and an
xious to trade. l believe they would
receive colonists with open arms, and
give them lands on easy terms. The
civilized Yoruba people from Sierra
Leone would unite with the colonists
from America, and this would lead the
natives to do the same. The final re.
suit would probably be that all those
countries, like the Moors of tho north
would exchange their languages and
religion for those of the immigrants.
Please excuse the imperfcctions Of
this hastily written letter. Ifyou should
deem 1t necessary to make any further
inquiries | would gladly give you the
best information in my possession.
Truly Yours,
r. J. BOWEN.
P. S.-August 7th.-If any steps
should be taken, ] would venture to
suggest the following course:
Let the government appoint com.
missioner to make treaties with native
kings.
Let the Colonization Society appoint
men to examine the coast, and the Os-
sa river, east and west of Lagos, and
select place for a seaport town. Also
to examine the country east and west
of Abbeokuta. Also to procure lands
for settlements.
would begin one interior settlement
at the same time with the one on the
coast,
A committee of good and wise men
should draw up code of laws, having
especial regard to intercourse with the
natives.
would have clause that men of
every color and country might become
citizens of the colony on the same terms.
Then if our country of Nigritia should
ever become a republic, the U. States
would probably acknowledge it.
wish that every colonial settlement
could also be regarded as an American
trading post, and thus become under
the protection of our flag.
Regarding colonization as one of the
great means to christianize the Afric-
ans, have definitely made up my mind
to devote myself to that cause, so far
as can. Il. j. b.
DRUNKENNESS. A foreigner, visit
ing Britain, said: " 1t is blessed
thing for the world that you Anglo.
Saxons are drunken race. Such are
your powers, and energy, and talent,
that otherwise you would have become
masters of the world"
Several Roman Catholic priests have
been accommodated by the Bishop Of
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