it the blessings of civilization and Christianity, is worthy the most strenuous exertions of the philanthropist, whilst to the mercantile and general interests of the civilized world it is of the highest importance. Africa presents an almost boundless tract of country, teeming with inhabitants who admire, and are desirous of possessing our manufactures. There is no limit to the demand, except their want of articles to give us in return. They must be brought to avail themselves of their own resources.

Attempts, as we have seen, have already been made to form cotton plantations, and the article produced is found to be of a very useful and valuable description. Perseverance in these efforts is alone required to accomplish the object in view, and, when once accomplished, the importance to this country will be incalculable. The trade in palm-oil is capable of immense extension, and the article is every year becoming more important and in more extensive use. In exchange for these, and many other valuable articles, British manufactures would be taken, and British ships find a profitable employment in the conveyance of them.

It so happens that a considerable proportion of the goods which best suit the taste of the natives of Africa, consists of fabrics to which power-looms cannot be applied with any advantage. Any extension, then, of the trade to Africa, will have this most important additional advantage, that it will cause a corresponding increase in the demand for the labor of a class of individuals who have lately been truly represented as suffering greater privations than any other set of workmen connected with the cotton trade

But the first object of our intercourse with Africa should be, not so much to obtain a remunerating trade, as to repair in some measure the evil that the civilized world has inflicted on her, by conveying Christianity, instruction, and the useful arts to her children. The two objects will eventually, if carried on in a right manner, be found perfectly compatible; for it is reasonable to seek in legitimate commerce a direct antidote to the nefarious traffic which has so long desolated and degraded her. We have shown the vast variety and importance of the productions which Africa is capable of yielding: we have already proved that, notwithstanding the bounty of nature, the commerce of Africa is most insignificant. Truly may we say with Burke, "To deal and traffic-not in the labor of men, but in men themselves-is to devour the root, instead of enjoying the fruit of human diligence."

CHAPTER III.

FACILITIES FOR COMMERCIAL INTERCOURSE.

I HAVE thus stated what I conceive to be the gist of the whole question, viz., that the deliverance of Africa must spring, under the blessing of God, from herself, and I have also shown, I trust to the satisfaction of every reader, that she possesses abundant capabilities for the purpose. The next question that arises, is, how are these capabilities to be made available? how are we to obtain access to them? Great, no doubt, are the difficulties; yet, such are the discoveries of the last ten years, that we may now lay aside the impressions of an impenetrable continent, and of interminable wastes of sand, which have accompanied us from our childhood. We now know that a mighty river which discharges itself into the Bight of Benin, by upwards of twenty mouths, is navigable, with little interruption, from thence nearly to its source, a distance of more than 2,600 miles. We also learn from the travelers who have navigated the Niger, that there are many tributary streams, some of which, especially the Tschadda, or Shaderbah, are equally navigable, and afford every facility for intercourse with the numerous nations and tribes who inhabit the countries in their vicinity.

Mungo Park, in his last journey (1805), embarked on the Niger at Bammakoo, about 500 miles from its source. In his narrative he says, "Having gained the summit of the ridge which separates the Niger from the remote branches of the Senegal, I went on

a little before, and coming to the brow of the hill, I once more saw the Niger rolling its immense stream along the plain." And he tells us, it is larger "even here, than either the Senegal or the Gambia, and full an English mile over." When preparing for his subsequent embarkation on the Niger, he says, "the best wood for boat-building is near Kaukary, on a large navigable branch of the Niger." Park descended the river to Boussa, where most unhappily he was killed.

In 1830, Lander, who had accompanied the enterprising Clapperton in his last journey to Houssa, was sent out by the British Government to explore the Niger. He succeeded in reaching Boussa by a land route there he embarked on the river, and after a voyage of about 560 miles, reached the Bight of Benin, and thus solved the interesting problem which had so long exercised the talents and ingenuity of modern geographers.

Messrs. Laird and Oldfield, by the aid of steamvessels, went up the Niger from the Bight of Benin, in 1832; and their journals contain much valuable information as to that river, and its tributary, the Tschadda. The latter, at the point of confluence, is represented to be one mile and a half broad; and the country on the banks of both rivers is described to be most fertile, very populous, and, wherever there is any security from the ravages of the Slave Trade, highly cultivated.

Mr. Oldfield ascended the Niger to the town of Rabbah, and he explored the Tschadda, for about 100 miles from its confluence with the Niger at Addacuddah.

They also describe several towns, Eboe, Iccory,

Iddah, Egga, Rabbah, and Fundah, proving how great are the facilities for trade and commerce with the interior afforded by the river.

It is to be regretted that so little of the Tschadda has been explored. Mr. Oldfield was informed, that its course lay through the heart of Africa, and that there were many large towns on its banks; and Laird in mentioning this river, says, "By it, a communication would be opened with all the nations inhabiting the unknown countries between the Niger and the Nile."

Here, then, is one of the most magnificent rivers in the world, introducing us into the heart of Africa: at a central point, it opens a way by its eastern branch, to the kingdoms of Bournou, Kanem, and Begharmi ; by its western, to Timbuctoo,-each of them bringing us into communication with multitudes of tribes, and unfolding to us the productions of a most extensive and fertile territory.

The problem is, how shall that stream be closed to the passage of slaves to the coast; while it is at the same time opened as a secure and accessible highway for legitimate commerce. The solution seems almost self-evident: we must obtain the positions which command the Niger; and without doubt, the most important of these, is Fernando Po.

FERNANDO PO.

I have already adverted to the importance of this island, as being decidedly the best locality on the coast for the reception of liberated negroes; and for aiding us in a great effort for the civilization of Africa. It is situated about 20 miles from the main land, in