The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-02-27
EXPLORATIONS IN AFRICA.


Public attention has been for ten DAYS past
especially turned to the statements of the
Rev. Thomas jefferson Bowen, native of
Georgia, once an officer in the war of Texas
and Florida, but for the last seven years a
bold explorer and faithful missionary in
Yoruba, aud the adjoining Kingdoms Of Gen.
trail Africa. Mr.. Brown is Baptist minister,
and seven years ago was inspired by the
great purpose of establishing mission among
the almost unknown nations near the Niger.
He visited Sierra Leone and Liberia, and
many other parts of the African Coast, and
finally, from the port of Lagos, in the Blight
of Benin, he proceeded North into the king
dom of Yoruba, country open, comparatively
healthy, elevated, fertile, well watpred, popu-
lous and halfcivilized, with large walled
towns and cities, region as extensive as
South Carolina, Astounding in hills and noun
tains of granite, and an agricultural people,
who BY their industrious labor produce fine
crops of Indian corn, sufficient cotton for
their own clothing, and whatever is absolute
" necessary for their simple modes of life
During three years he acquired the language
of the country, and returned to secure addi-
tional missionaries, with several Of whom he
returned to the Africans, who had invited
him to make their country his home, and
were disposed to listen to his Christian in
structions. After nearly four years, his health
and that of Mrs. Bowen compelled him to
return for n brief season to this country He
has brought to us information Of great value,
described country and people to Amer-
cans and Europeans almost unknown, and his
earnest desire is that the government and
citizens of this country should open trade
with those tribes and nations of Central
Africa, to whom the Niger is the natural and
easy channel of communication with the
civilized world.
Mr.. Bowen was the first American, indeed
the first civilized man who ever entered the
gate of the great city of Gloria, city of such
extent that The people assured him he could
not ride around it in one dav, and to which
caravans come to trade from very remote ma.
tons, and where he fouHd merchants from
Arabia, Tripoli, and even from Constantine
pie. The inhabitants of Yoruba, and adjacent
countries, smelt and manufacture iron, spin
and weave cotton, make beautiful leather,
work in brass, and make very beautiful glass
for ornaments, have fine cattle and horses
desire many things which we have, and are
able to pay for them. They can supply us
with ivory, palm oil, hides, and can open the
way TO rich mines Of gold. What is required
is to send small steamer up the Niger, with
few presents to the African Chiefs, and a
commissioner to make treates of amity and
commerce at all important places from its
mouth to Timbuctoo and Seys. Civilization
is quite rs much interested in this exploration
as commerce. Wide districts on the Yoruba
country are well adapted to colonization,
having been depopunted by former wars
Mr.. Bowen gives satisfactory reasons why the
English have thus far faied to explore the
Niger. He believes that with few l.berians
and Kroomen, the enterprise, at small ex-
pense, can be so accomplished as to secure
vast benefit to the United States and to
Africa. Most truly your FRIEND.