The Princeton union., 1880-09-16
The Population Of Africa.

New York Times.
{ Although we have not, nor are we
likely to have for wears, any accurate 4
statistics of the population Of the in
terror of Africa, there is very little
doubt that we have greatly UNDER
rated it. Much important informa-
tion has lately been gathered on the
subject, especially concerning the dis
tribution and density Of the inhabit-
ants of that far-of land. In the great
lake district, for instance, there are
territories as thickly settled as many
European States-relatively small
areas as--possessing millions of people.
The negro regions arc by far the most
Populous, while the desert regions are
the reverse. A French geographical
society gives the estimated figures of
various subdivisions of that continent,
as follows: In the Soudan the popu-
lation is 80,OO0,O00, or about 53 per-
sons per square mile. The Town of
Bida, on the Niger, for instance, con-
tains fully 10000 inhabitants. East
Africa is rated at SO,00O,00O, and
Equatorial Africa at some 100000
souls. A late authority on ethnology
sets down the negroes as numerically
130,000,000; the Hamites, 2O,OOO,O00
the Bantas, 100000; the Foolahs,
100000; the Nubians, 100000; the
Hottentos, 50,000,O ,O00-making a total
Of 172,500,000. These figures only
approximate, Of course-are considered
too low both by German and British
geographers, the former estimating ;he
population as high rs 100000, ,OCO.
Much hope has been repeatedly ex-
pressed Of the future of Africa, which
is rich in mineral products, and cap
able of maintaining a prosperous COM
merce with. other parts of the globe.
Along the coasts and caravan roads
the chief trade has been, and continues
to be, in slaves. It is thought that re-
cent effort will yet do much toward
abating the odious traffic, as he na-
tives are capable of something better.
Many Of the tribes are above the con-
dition of savages. They have fixed
habitations, though merely mud huts,
defended by stockades, and have some
laws OF customs favorable to COM
merce. While the vegetation of At
RIGA is not so varied as that of Europe
and America, it is, nevertheless, rich.
| The forests contain valuable woods of
the harder kind, some of them excel
lent for ship building and quite an cx-
port trade has already sprung up.
Ebony, rosewood, and a timber called
African teak are among the Droduc-
tions Of the tropical forests. These,
and the trade in ivory, now attract the
ships of Europe, in constantly incrcas-
| ino fn to
quented only for the prosecution OF
the trade in human chattcls. Among
several tribes the native merchant is
greatly esteemed, and his property is
safe even during war. Our knowledy ye
of the interior commerce of Africs
is scanty. Caravans Of camels traverse
the wide deserts by such routes as lead
them to the greatest number of brooks
springs and oases, or comparatively
fertile spots. The principal trading
is done by the chieftains Of the var
ious tribes, and one favorable feature
to commerce, though often carried tt
cruel extremes, is the compelled hon.
esty Of debtors. When payments ar
not promptly made the debtor, or ii
case OF his absence, any member of the
family lhay be seized and hclda slave
The land is cultivated; the inhabit.
ants wear dyed cotton clothes; gold
and iron are ingeniously manufactured
and certain kind of intelligence SEEM
to be very slowly spreading. But a
yet, civilization, in its proper sense
is not known, OF to be met with, fol
the condition Of even the Moors
Arabs, and Egyptians, is scarcel,
entitled to rank higher than tha
OF standardization. What Atric
most needs is free commercial in
tercourse with the outer world, am
that must arrive. Who knows bu
that, in the coming cycles, the highes
civilization may not be found wher,
the first civilization arose?