Blyden, Professor of the Ancient Languages in the College of Liberia, who is a highly educated black man, and minister in the Presbyterian Church, was listened to with profound interest. Mr. Blyden is a native of St. Thomas, but educated in the Alexander High School of Monrovia, has visited England and Scotland, and received the commendation of eminent men in those countries as well as in this. The Rev. Alexander Crummell, his associate in his present visit to our country, and who is also appointed to a professorship in the Liberia College, intends with Mr. Blyden to consecrate himself to the interests of the Liberia College. We hope to give a more particular account of these meetings in our next number. Letters are received at this office from Liberia up to the 9th of May. RECEIPTS OF THE AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY, From the 20th of May to the 20th of June, 1862. NEW HAMPSHIRE. 37 00 38 00 75 00 L.W.Carroll, Gardner Greene, New London-Thos. W.Williams, 258 00 30 00 65 00 21 00 561 71 Middletown-H. G. Hubbard, Mrs. W. Huntington, each $10, E. H. Roberts, E. A. Russell, Mrs. General Mansfield, each $5, Mrs. E. T. R. Stedman, $3, Dr. Woodward, Mrs. Sarah Spencer, each $2, B. Douglas, E. Davis, Miss E. Tracy, Miss E. A. Selden, Miss M. H. Hulbert, Mrs. Jona Barnes, each $1..... Cromwell-J. Stevens, Edward Savage, each $3, Miss Lattemer, Mrs. Brooks, each $1, J. Ingliss, 25 cents. NEW JERSEY. By Rev. John Orcutt-$138 82: New Brunswick-Miss Elizabeth Bennett, $35, John Clark, $10, Dr. Geo. Janeway, Mrs. P. S. Van Deventer, Mrs. John W. Stout, Johnson Letson, David Bishop, each $5, Rev. Dr. Proudfit, $3, Mrs. Eliza Bunyon, James Garretson, Lewis Applegate, each $2, John Terhune, Prof. Berg, E. Baker, K. T. B. Spader, J. B. Van Aesdale, Judge Bunyon, Rosanna Francis, each $1.. Newark-J. D. Vermilye, $10, Rev. W. H. Steele, Wm. Rankin, J. B. Peirce, Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, each $5, Rev. Dr. Nichols, $2, Miss Mary Townsend, $3, J.A. Halsey, $1, Cash, $1 50, New Jersey Colonization Society, $8. Metuchon-Collection in Reformed Dutch Church...... Elizabeth-Rev. H.W.Whitney. The above were appropriated for the personal benefit of the New Jersey emigrants by the Rev. John Orcutt. PENNSYLVANIA. Pennsylvania Colonization Society on account of colonizing 86 00 45 50 6 32 1 00 138 82 two persons from their State 116 00 THE AFRICAN REPOSITORY Vol. xxxviii.] WASHINGTON, AUGUST, 1862. [No. 8. REPORT ON THE NATURAL PRODUCTS AND CAPABILITIES OF THE SHIRE AND LOWER ZAMBESI VALLEYS. By JOHN KIRK, Botanist to the Livingstone Expedition. Dated Senna, December 28, 1860. [From the Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of London.] I beg to offer the following report concerning the capabilities of the regions explored by the expedition under your command for the growth of such articles as are in demand in Europe: The countries examined have been those bordering the Zambesi from the east coast to Sesheke, a Makololo town, situated in the centre of the African continent; likewise the valley of a tributary river, the Shiré, from Lake Nyassa to its confluence with the Zambesi, near Moramballa Hill. The highlands of the Batoka and Manganja countries have also been visited. The area thus included extends over 11° of longitude and 5° of latitude; the greatest height above the sea level being 8,000 feet. The The Zambesi forms a large Delta, commencing sixty miles from its mouth; the coast for about eight miles inland is muddy, wooded with mangrove, avicennia, and other trees peculiar to such places within the tropics; the remainder of the Delta consists of rich flat alluvial lands, intersected by many branches of the river. This great tract is covered almost exclusively with gigantic grasses, which keep down all other forms of vegetation, only borassus palms, with a few figs, acacias, or lignum vitæ trees, being able to resist the fires which sweep over these plains during the dry season. people at present inhabiting the Delta are for the most part fugitives; the slave trade and war have combined to desolate this rich country, which once produced corn, vegetables, and fruits in abundance. Near the coast cotton of an inch staple is found growing wild, having sprung up from seed accidentally scattered; this equals in value much of the Egyptian. Climate and soil are admirably suited, seeing that the plant succeeds so well without cultivation, surrounded by weeds. In the more inland districts it could not raise its head above the dense luxuriance of the other vegetation. The labor required to cultivate cotton here is very small, and the Delta might be made a vast cotton field by encouraging the natives to industry. Many parts of these lands are also suited for the growth of the sugar cane; a little is now raised near the coast, and succeeds well, and it might be raised in most parts, even without irrigation. Besides sorghum, pennisetum, maize, setaria, eleusine, and various other sorts of native corn, the Delta also yields wheat during the cold season. Rice of good quality is also cultivated. Tropical fruits succeed well, and near the coast mangos, pine apples, guavas, cashews, lemons, oranges, and cocoa nuts are still found where Portuguese settlements had existed in former times. The climate of the Delta is mild, presenting neither the excessive heat nor cold of the interior; the atmosphere is much moister, and heavy dews are frequent; the prevalence of a sea breeze renders the parts near the coast more healthy than those within the mangroves. The malaria, although an obstacle to the settlement of Europeans, is by no means so intense as that of the west coast; and we have not found a case which resisted treatment, while a cure is commonly effected on the third day. To those passing through, or remaining for a short time, there seems to be no danger. But in order that this might become an extensive source of cotton, the permanent residence of Europeans is not necessary; if it were raised by the natives, and purchased from them by agents, a steady supply might be depended on; but time would be needed, even under a wise government, to bring the Delta back to a flourishing state. The valley of the Zambesi, from the Delta to where the river enter the Batoka Hills, presents a very uniform vegetation, that of the valleys and adjacent plains differing from that of the hills, which frequently cross the river. In its course it is joined by the Loangwa and Kafué from the north, and several smaller streams from the south. The forests which clothe this region abound in valuable woods. Lignum vitæ and ebony are both common, so much so that in the region between Tetté and Shupanga we have frequently consumed a ton per day of these alone, the only difficulty experienced being to obtain them of sufficiently small size to enter the badly constructed furnace. There are also many timber trees suitable for machinery and ship-building. A species of Pterocarpus (the "Malompe"), from its lightness and strength, is well adapted for making oars, and is used by the people of the interior for their paddles. The forests, inland from Shupanga, contain the "gunda," from single trees of which canoes capable of carrying three tons are hollowed out. The hilly regions, especially those between Senna and Tetté, contain the buaze, but it is found in the hills of Mburuma and of the Batoka also. This is the best fibre in the country, being durable when exposed to wet; it is invariably used for fishing nets, and exists so abundantly that no attempt has been made to cultivate it. The seed also yields a large amount of a drying oil. Between the river bank and the hills there are many wide plains of the richest soil, which in ordinary seasons yield abundant crops, but are liable to suffer from droughts by which the corn crops are cut off, but do not affect the cotton to such an amount. In the damp valleys sugar cane and wheat are raised, but irrigation would be required to render these crops general. The district to the north of Tetté is the only part in which sugar is manufactured; this is performed in a very rude manner by the natives. Cotton seems to be the crop best suited for these parts; it is grown in small quantities everywhere; it is a perennial shrub, and springs up the following season even after being burned down; the quality varies very much. That of Kebrabassa is good, also that found beyond the Kafué, but in the intermediate space that chiefly cultivated is of the Kaja or native sort. And the plantations are very small: this is to be accounted for by their distance from the coast, and the very unsettled state of the population, who have been impoverished by successive bands of the Matebele. Above Kebrabassa there are hundreds of miles of the best cotton lands, but until these rapids shall have been shown to be navigable at flood, there exists a considerable land carriage, which could not be undertaken unless these parts were in the hands of an active and powerful government, The valley of the Zambesi, beyond the Victoria Falls, is so far removed from the navigable part leading to the east coast, that its vegetable produce is of comparatively little importance in a commercial point of view; it is also very unhealthy; otherwise it is a very rich country, inhabited by the finest races we have met, both for physical and mental development; they seem free of the suspicion with which a foreigner is regarded in other parts, and are anxious to obtain European articles, of which they see the advantage. In the north, beyond the part reached by us, the sugar cane is said to be grown, while near Sesneke the cotton plant attains a size not observed elsewhere; a single plant sometimes covering a space of twelve feet diameter, and forming a stem eight inches thick. A plantation of such bushes would require only to be kept clean to continue for a lifetime. This had been a season of unusual drought, but there had been a heavy crop of cotton, which was allowed to rot on the ground. The Batoka highlands, to which attention has been drawn as the first discovered in these latitudes possessing a healthy climate, are situated to the north of the Zambesi, between it and the Kafué. The valley of the Zambesi is there 1,000 feet above the sea; the southern slopes are steep, and come down near to the river; the highlands themselves form a vast undulating plain, varying from 3,000 to 4,000 feet high; they are covered with grass suitable for cattle, and open forests abounding in game; in most parts they are well watered by streams which might be made to irrigate the surrounding parts. The climate is cool and healthy, and during the cold season there are frosts at night. Near the Victoria Falls various native fruit trees have been culti vated by the natives, a thing almost unknown in other parts of Southern Africa. Cotton is said to be grown in the north; and the parts visited by us, which had been deserted by the inhabitants, seemed in every respect well suited for it. If these regions were more accessible, their value could not be over estimated, as a European settlement would exercise a most beneficial influence over the interior, and prevent those desolating wars which have stayed the advancement of the people. The whole of this country is free of the Tsetse fly, which is so common in the Zambesi valley; thus cattle and horses might be kept, and an industrious population would soon congregate around any one who could secure to them peace. The obstacles which stand in the way are the difficulties of communication with the coast. Turning to the valley of the river Shiré, which joins the Zambesi eighty miles from the coast, near the Hill of Moram balla, we meet a fertile region in immediate communication with the coast, forming the pathway to another still richer, possessing highlands superior in point of position to those of the Batoka, thickly peopled by an industrious race, already extensively engaged in the growth of cotton. The people are of one race and language, but governed by many chiefs, each supreme in his own district. These regions possess the advantages of easy access, and of not having had intercourse with the Portuguese settlements. Previous to our visit, Europeans had never been seen by the people, and we were invariably well treated, unless when coming in contact with slave-trading parties from the coast. The first hundred miles of this valley takes a northerly course, the river being deep and navigable the whole way; beyond this, a mountainous region, involving a transport of thirtyfive miles, intervenes between the lower and upper valley, in which the Shiré is again navigable to Lake Nyassa, in latitude S. 14° 30'. The trade of the interior, on its way to the different coast towns, passes to the south of the lake, crossing the river Shiré. The chiefs in these parts, possessed of neither ivory nor copper, must sell their people if they would purchase foreign goods, and excuses are easily found for such a course. By the present path of trade, they are so far removed from the coast that cotton could not repay the carriage, but by the establishment of commerce on the Shiré, the production of cotton and sugar would open to them a more profit. able means of employing labor, and direct the people to industry and the growth of such things as are required in Europe, being advantageous to both parties. |