Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-11-30

ne .n 30 uilpat Vsis as cI,ses .eoarapuv..
tre accustomed to depict. The Marque,
u Etomrille, who was for zen years slave
| in the neighborhood of Droglado, speak
| IN no dis?araging terms of the civilization
| of the people. The policy of their gov.
erpment, he describes as bearing a near re-
Iation to that of China; and, like the Chi.
nese, their civilization is maintained from
! he remotest times, and is anterior to Lhat
of the Egyptians. Ee examined historical
books among them, and found their sacred
books much resembling our Scriptures -
He conceived that the book of Genesis
was written in accordance with, the geogra-
ply OF that conntIy, !, .,,..g,. -.
M.fDonville IN 828 visited the country
of the Monlova people, under the equator,
and bore testimony TO their advanced cul-
ture. They wrought copper, and were
skilled in carpentry. Their buildings
we're remarkable for the. elegance of their
appearance; the houses were all kept in
good order, and far better than those OF
the French peasantry. AT 'Yanoo, the
capital, he found ambassadors from a ma
ton living to the eastward and desired TO
accompany them home. They would not
consent. alleging that il was capital
offence to bring foreigner into their
country. This agrees with the declaration
OF Emanuel Swedenborg. Last Judgmo Mt,
SIS rs, 78. . ... ....l1..
The physical geography of the African
continent shows it to be abundant in nat
ural resources. The soil of the desert has
already been noticed. From TeReriff to
Liberia. the rock is trap: below to the
southeast, granite. In Yariba, trap and
gaeiss again appear, also protogene. The
old red sandstone occupies the whole coast
of Guinea. Back from the coast are large
quantities of claystone suitable for build.
ing purposes and soft enough to. be cut
with tools. Vast mines ofiron exist there
of a superior qualify. Mr. Bowen found
in Yorrouba, hlllocks which proved to be
the remains of forges in which the metal
had been wrought, thousands of years ago
Copper and lead are also obtained in grea'
abundance. Brass of an excellent quality
was very plentiful and ch ap. and he was
told that it was manufactured in the in
terror. Gold and gems were also abundant
in the Ashantree country, and it was from
those regions that ancient Carthage de-
rived her vast wealth.
Commercial facilities are easily created
in all that part of the continent. The
swan1ps which foreigners find SO dcstruct-
lNS W HtdiLn, ON lltle IilS coast, "f.llG be-
yond is an elevated plateau, in which the
heat is never extreme At some seasons,
tbs A0rmattan or cold wind prevails, max
ing the climate salubrious. The absence
of mountain ranges is favorable to the
of railroads, while tie Niger
itself may be made the thoroughfare for
a lucrative commerce. This river has
been APPLY styled the Mississippi Of Africa.
From it's delta to it's source it is more
than three thousand miles in length, and
for a great portion of that distance may be
navigated by steamboats,. Its principal
tributaries, we are assured, are navigable
for more than fifteen hundred miles.
The country, which is drained by the
Niger and It's branches, is rich in re-
sources yet undeveIoped Cotton, which |
first was brought thence to America, may
be produced in great abundance The |
indigo tree houriahes there, and can be |
made 10 supply the wants of the people of
Europe. The most precious gums are
wasting year by year in quantities suffi- !
aient to make the fortunes of many mer-
'antie houses. Ivory, silk and skins can !
De obtained with litlle difficulty. The !
palm tree grows luxulianGy and in abund-
lnce, ample enough to SIMPLY oil for the
est of the world
The commerce with this country, now
1alued at about thirty millions Of dollars, !
:ould be augmented many times over, if |
'ur merchants would establish trading !
POSTS in the interior, far up the Niger. so
IS TO compete aud break up the vast traffic /
~ the caravans. TIE English. neglectful
If this. have failed to open lucrative
commerce. The minor impe diment in
he way of African industry is the want
# a market for their productions. If this
8 furnished it will not require long time
o develop the exhaustless resources of
hat country. 'f.l'7 1, ta-f ,...
Mr.. Bowen thinks that our government
hould send an expedition to explore the
'iger. This would aid greatly in open
1g sucha commerce, and prove a source
t incalculable wealth to our own country
round the marts which would be estab-
ehed in Central A frica, large towns
'ould spring up. which would become .
ucleuses of civilization, and the slave
'ade might thus be more efiec tually sup
ressed. - .. ....... .s.
"RgOGhcF, I ann VVc:t wy"