to; the advantages of commerce are beginning to be realized; the influences of Christianity and education have made a deep impression; and the slave trade has been banished from the coast. Our station is on the outside of the Continent, and our process of getting in must necessarily be slow. Could we have taken our station interior, in contact with the sensible and vital parts, our civilizing influences would doubtless have been more extensively felt and more rapidly diffused. But there lies the very difficulty. The way has never yet been opened by which we could reach that interior location. There are doubtless many places more favorable for making an impression than the one we occupy-as we shall have occasion to show before we close this article-but the difficulty is to reach those places; they lie too remote from the coast; the access to them is too slow, difficult and dangerous to allow of an attempt to plant a pioneer Colony there. We must begin on the husk and the rind of the Continent, or not begin at all. And if our progress inward is slow, we may depend upon its being sure. We cannot doubt that in spite of all the drawbacks, we shall yet do much toward the improvement of the Continent. How fast and how far our influence shall extend, must depend mainly on the amount of means we can command, the number and character of the emigrants we can locate in the Colony, and the prudence and wisdom with which all their intercourse and negotiations with the natives are conducted.

The influence which the commerce carried on with the northern parts of the Continent by the Arab and Moorish merchants, who come across the Great Desert, has exerted on the natives, may be adverted to as an illustration of what we may expect from our operations on the Western Coast. The Desert trade has penetrated to a considerable distance, and has produced some marked effects. On the route of the Caravans from Bornou to Soccatoo, there is a great superiority in respect to government, organization, manners, intelligence and industry, over the tribes or kingdoms. lying off from this route and the borders of the Desert. We shall subjoin the descriptions of some of these places and people from various travellers who have visited them :

"The people of Nyffe are the most celebrated for their manufacture of cloths, plain and dyed, which are the best in Africa. They have an export trade consisting of ivory, indigo, ostriches, camels, leopard's skins, bees-wax, mats and sandals, in the manufacture of which they are said to be unrivalled. Rabbah has a large market to which caravans of merchants come from the Houssa country, from Soccatoo, from Kano, and from Tripoli.

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In the middle of the river and within sight of Rabbah lies the flourishing island of Zagozhie, mentioned by LANDER as one of the most extensive and thickly inhabited towns, as well as one of the most extensive trading places in the whole kingdom of Nyffe.

"The cloths which they manufacture, and the tobes and trowsers which they make, are most excellent, and would not disgrace an European manufactory; they are worn and valued by kings, chiefs and great men, and are the admiration of the neighboring countries which vainly attempt to imitate them. We have also seen a variety of caps which are worn

solely by females, and made of cotton interwoven with silk, of the most exquisite workmanship. The people are uncommonly industrious, both males and females, who are always busy either in culinary or in other domestic operations. In our walks we see groups of people employed in spinning cotton; others in making wooden bowls and dishes, mats of various patterns, shoes, sandals, cotton dresses, caps and the like; others busily employed in fashioning brass and iron stirrups, bits for bridles, hoes, chains, fetters, &c., and others again in making saddles and other horse accoutrements. The inhabitants have liberty stamped upon their features, and lightness and activity, so rarely to be seen in this country of sluggards, are observed in all their actions. The generality of the people are well behaved; they are hospitable and obliging to strangers, they dwell in amity with their neighbors, they live in unity, peace and social intercourse with themselves. They are made bold by freedom, affluent by industry and frugality, healthy by exercise and labor, and happy by combination of all these blessings."

Such is the description given by LANDER of these people. It is doubtless heightened by a desire to make an agreeable picture, or by the force of the contrast between them and the most of the other parts of Africa. The description is no doubt faithful in the general, as it is substantially given by all travellers who have visited them.

We might here stop to inquire what is it that makes such a wide difference between these islanders and their distant neighbors? They spring from the same general stock, their color is the same, their island is not large, only about fifteen miles long by three broad. The soil is not unusually rich; when the river rises it is overflowed, and the houses stand in the

water.

race.

No missionary has been among them; their religion is idolatrous. They have had little intercourse with any civilized people, or educated Where then lies the secret of their superiority to their neighbors? The answer is found in their peculiar condition. They are not torn and rent by the slave trade. They are secure from aggression and oppression. We are told that the "Chief of Zagozhie, the king of the dark waters," has a fleet of six hundred canoes, and fears no invasion. His people are brought up to the water, they live secure in person and in property within their wooden walls, they are the only ferrymen, and all the trade of the river is in their hands. They are a kingdom and a nation of themselves, and unlike any of their neighbors.

We cannot repress the remark, what a desirable place for the location of a missionary. How favorable for accomplishing most important results! What would not the institutions of education and the influences of religion achieve for such a people? If we had them in the neighborhood of Liberia, the boldest anticipations might be realized. But how are we to reach them? We are obliged to ask the same question, and wait for an answer, in regard to many interior places favorable for exerting an influence.

The following sketch of daily life at Coolfu, by Capt. CLAPPERTON, is worthy of attention. It shows that they have advanced far in artificial habits, and are far from being satisfied with e mere supply of the more importunate wants of nature:

"At daylight the whole household arise; the women begin to clean the house, the men to wash from head to foot; the women and children are then washed in water, in which the leaf of a bush has been boiled called Bambarnia; when this is done, breakfast of cocoa is served out, every one having their separate dish, the women and children eating together. After breakfast the women and children rub themselves over with the pounded red wood and a little grease, which lightens the darkness of their black skin. A score or patch of the red powder is put on some place where it will show to the best advantage. The eyes are blacked with khol. The mistress and better looking females stain their teeth and the inside of their lips of a yellow color with gora, the flower of the tobacco plant, and the bark of a root; the outer part of the lips, hair and eyebrows, are stained with shani or prepared indigo. Then the women who attend the market, prepare their wares, and when ready, go. The elderly women prepare, clean, and spin cotton at home, and cook the victuals; the younger females are generally sent round the town selling the small rice balls, fried beans, &c. The master of the house generally takes a walk to the market, or sits in the shade at the door of his house, hearing the news or speaking of the price of natron or other goods. The weavers are daily employed at their trade; some are sent to cut wood and bring it to the market, others to bring grass for the horses that may belong to the house, or to take to the market to sell; numbers, at the beginning of the rainy season, are employed in clearing the ground for sowing the maize or millet; some are sent on distant journeys to buy and sell for their master and mistress, and very rarely betray their trust. About noon they return home, when all have a mess of the pudding called waki or boiled beans, and about two or three in the afternoon they return to their different employments, in which they remain till near sunset, when they count their gains to their master or mistress, who receives it, and puts it away carefully in the strong room. They then have a meal of pudding or a little fat stew. The mistress of the house when she goes to rest, has her feet put into a cold poultice of pounded henna leaves. The young then go to dance and play, if it is moonlight, and the old to lounge and converse in the open square of the house, or in the outer coozie, where they remain till the cool of the night."

This town is one of the great centres of the inland trade, in which all the larger streams meet, and from which the smaller ones radiate. It is, however, much disturbed by conquests and invasions of various kindscivil war often prevails, and insurrections. There is nothing like a settled constitution or form of government, or equitable code of laws. Captain CLAPPERTON informs us

"That there are here, besides the daily market attended by the inhabitants, two markets held weekly, which are resorted to by strangers. The extent of their attraction may be thus explained: from Bornou, far to the east; from Cubbi, Yaoori, Zamfra, and the borders of the Desert on the north; from Yarriba and the Gold Coast westward; and from Benin and Jaboo, and the furtherest part of Nyffe, to the south. There resorts to this market parties of regular merchants, bringing the produce of their several countries for sale, as for instance, salt from the north; red wood, peppers, and European cloths from the south; kolla and goora nuts, gold, wollen cloths and printed cottons, brass and pewter dishes, earthen-ware, and muskets, from the western coast; horses, natron, unwrought silk, undyed tobes, from Bornou; besides a variety of articles which find their way across the Desert. Venitian beads, Maltese swords. Italian lookingglasses, gums, and scented woods of the east; silks, turbans, and tunics of

checked silks and linen from Egypt, and many more, all of which are to be had at Coolfu, and meet with a ready sale. Some of these merchants erect tents for themselves outside the walls, where they sell their wares; others send them by their slaves to the market, and round to the different houses; others entrust them to brokers, of whom there are many in town, both male and female; others live in the houses of their friends. And besides these regular merchants, there are a great number of petty traders, chiefly women, who come from the towns lying to the west of the Niger in Yarribah, and Borgoo, many days journey distant, carrying their goods on their heads, and trading at the several markets as they pass. These lodge in the town, and, while they attend the markets daily, support themselves by spinning cotton during their spare time. As soon as they have sold what they have, and bought what they want, they return to their homes again. The inhabitants likewise, (not excepting the artizans and manufacturers, of whom there are many,) are mostly engaged in buying and selling."

From the above statements it will be seen that the wants of these people are rather simple, and comparatively few. They seem, however, not to be indifferent to superfluities. And in this particular at least they show some advancement toward civilization! They must possess considerable enterprise, or they would not go on such long journeys to buy and sell. And there must be more order and regard for the rights of others, than prevail in most other parts, or they could not find security for their persons and property in carrying on such an extensive traffic. If good government could be established among them, and good example set before them, and religion and education, the great levers of society, be made to exert their elevating and expanding influences, great things could be accomplished. Having reached their present stage, they will probably advance but little until some new motives of ambition are set before them, or some new stimulus to improvement is applied.

A people somewhat resembling these, but possessing perhaps more shrewdness and intelligence, is found at Kano. They are by no means unprepared to profit by new opportunities and brighter examples of civilization. They are ingenious, industrious, and full of traffic. They have a well-supplied market, a brisk and thriving trade, well regulated by laws and customs, and they show many signs of industry and ingenuity. The capital of this province is called Kano. Capt. CLAPPERTON spent considerable time in it, and says it contains from 30,000 to 40,000 inhabitants, of whom more than one-half are slaves.

THE GABRIELLA.-We regret sincerely to learn that this notorious slaver succeeded in shipping some FIVE HUNDRED slaves in the neighborhood of Gallinas, with whom she got safely off the coast. H. B. M. Brig Saracen, it is reported, was in sight nearly all the time the slaves were embarking, but confident in her superior sailing, the Gabriella paid no attention to the cruizer until she was nearly within gun shot, when the anchor was weighed, all sails spread to the breeze, and the Gabriella, with her human cargo safely stowed, stood across the bows of the "Saracen," and was soon out of sight on her voyage to the Havana. Another slaver, whose name we have not learned, sailed a few weeks since, with about THREE HUNDRED slaves from the same neighborhood.-Liberia Herall.

PURCHASE OF TERRITORY.-The American Colonization Society claims jurisdiction over the coast embraced between the limits of Grand Cape Mount, and Little Poor River, near New Cesters, to which jurisdiction the Society has a constructive right, from its owning lands and having settlements at several points within those bounds. This claim, too, has been repeatedly acknowledged, even by some of the most distinguished and influential men in England, though not formally by the English Government. This territory is none of it occupied until fairly purchased of the natives; who are generally willing to sell it in order to secure the protection of the Colony. And the Society, being equally anxious to buy, has directed their Agent to purchase as fast as he can within the prescribed limits.

We have hitherto omitted to mention, that in the month of March, Governor BUCHANAN, through the active and effective agency of J. BROWN, Esq., was enabled to acquire the different tracts on the coast, known as Grand Boutaw, Little Boutaw, and Blue Barre-a distance on the sea of fifty miles, and extending indefinitely inland.

The transfer made for a valuable consideration, subjects the native inhabitants to the laws of the Colony, and annuls their laws and customs which are at all contrary to the spirit of our statutes. The universal law among them, by which they appropriate every thing to their own use that is driven on shore, even sometimes to the clothes of a hapless mariner, stranded on their beach, is one they are most loth to abrogate, for by it they not unfrequently become masters of large vessels and cargoes of valuable articles, which make them rich for a time.

The loss of the schooner Hard Times at Sinoe river, on the 6th March last, afforded an opportunity of testing the fidelity of the Blue Barre people, to the laws of the Colony, which they had a few days before agreed to respect and obey. The schooner, as soon as she struck, by their country law, was theirs, but they said "this is Mr. BROWN'S vessel," and did not lay a finger on it, till the Captain and crew very unjustifiably forsook the wreck. Then, thinking the Americans gave it up to them, they commenced getting what they could from her. When Mr. BROWN heard of the accident and came to the spot, he succeeded in saving a chain cable, anchor, and the main sail; these he left in charge of a head-man to be delivered when called for. Rendered greedy by the trifling booty taken from the cabin, they afterward manifested an inclination to hold with a strong hand the things deposited by Mr. BROWN.

This occurred while Governor BUCHANAN was on his way to visit Cape Palmas. Seeing the wreck, he was induced to anchor and go on shore. Learning the state of things, he immediately went and demanded the articles mentioned, they being the only ones of much value. The smaller articles which were of the cargo, were so scattered, it was thought impracticable to attempt a requisition for their collection. To this abandonment of their old customs and adoption of those of the Colony, they had willingly subscribed on paper, but the practical operation of it, by which they were compelled to yield property they had been so long accustomed to think theirs by the special gift of God, was entirely another matter. The Governor seeing the necessity in the case, would listen to no compromise, but the speedy delivery of the articles demanded. These were finally returned to Mr. BROWN. And it happened well that so early in their allegiance to the Colonial Government, an opportunity was thus afforded of enforcing the Colonial authority in a matter of so much practical importance. -Liberia Herald.