, 1889-03-02

a noble stream, with a safe q relallVeiy
deep bar. The shores of it's lower course
are almost free from marsh. and mangrnVes
and 0fcr Arm, dry, and rich soil. which ~ eE
present nvergrOwn by magnificent forest'
The mild and tilnid inhabitants OF JUS, A0W't
er course belong TO the great Jekrl tEtOcs
which is the ruling race on the Benin rlveFs2
aud right along the coast to Lagos. NFnas
governor OF the Jekri country, is an. here.
ditary satrap of the King Of Benin. dc
is one of the most enlightened chiefs in the
Oil Rivers. His town, which contains
some very good houses, has been designed
anu built, in a great measure, according 20
EurOppan IDEAS. The trade of the Be min
river is very large, as it forms the d6bOuche
of the wealthy Benin c"untry-a land known
to Euoli b adVentRrerS as far back as 1905
when we find that British traders irst
visited the Benin river for the purpose OF
buying the so called pepper" The seeds OF.
a species of amOmum, which were largely
used in the middle ages for the purpose Of
making spices.
I have explored the main stream of the
Benin river for a certain distance inland,
and | have found II point on that river
from which Benin city Is distant only
fifteen miles, an improvement ON the OLD
round about way by GwOtO. which involved
"a long and difficult land journey. ~ s
The people Of the Jekri country are in
some respects superior IN local lndlgenOqs
civiIisatiOn to the inhabitants OF the rest
of the delta. and have u considerable show
of wealth, which is manifested especially
upon their persons, for the freemen and
wealthy slaves wear the most mag.
nifcent silks, which are specially ordered
for them from Europe, and they are also
especially fond of coral. 1t Is not an uIu.
sual circumstance to SEQ Jana ana some.
of his big chiefs with over 1901. worth OF
coral on their persons.
The climate Of the Niger Delta reSem"
blps that of other parts OF the West Coast
OF Africa within the same distance from
the Equator, except, perhaps, that 1t Is
more rainy than the districts TO the west
and south nevertheless, although the 10.
cal conditions of each part of the delta
influence lis Salubrity, still 1t may be stat.
ed generally, that the climate OF the Nj
ger Delta is less mnhealthy-that IS TO say,
there is less loss of life among the Euro
peanS-than in our other West African
possessions. The temperature is very equa-
bic it il rare that 1t reaches a greater
height than 800 in the shade, and the Their
mOmeter seldom goes below 65o. More
generally, the temperature night aud day
ranges between 75o and $40.
The greatest danger to health IN trop!!'
cal climates, or at any rate IN TT0pl-
cal Africa, occurs from catching cold.
Two other imprudenceS next to be- guard
ed against are excuses of any kind IN
eating or drinking, or exposing oneself
roo much to the direct rays ct the sun.
Errors in diet are promptly and ~lltlleSS'
" punished with sickness and whereas
Europeans are all the better III health for
taking a good deal of exercise; they are
easily liable to get sick it they expose
themselves to the SUMS rays without the
protection of an umbrella, which is FREE
Qurntly done by newcomers out OF fool
ish hravado. Remembering these three
ininmcrioins | have given, it Is by no means
q difficult matter to keep ones health in
the Niger Delta. / nm acquainted, with
plumbers of Europeans there-the major.
inv in fact-whO by living reasonable liyca
have no ailments to complain Of but rs
it is only the clamOurS Of the unhealthy
and the inprudent that reach Onr, ears.
we are too apt to conclude that the
complaints OF the few indicate the slI.
ferings of the many. 3-te1f.l
AS this rich country becomes opened
mn by commerce., as the marshes are
drained and filled mp, and the tooi denss
forests thinnpd and cut down; aS .
ppn4trate more and more to the7hpalthy
interior and arc able to supply Europeans
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