THE 



ANNUAL CYCLOPAEDIA. 



AFRICA. The year 1870 has been one of 

 remarkable quiet, which forms a striking con- 

 trast to the excitement produced in 1869 by 

 the opening of the canal of Suez, and the diffi- 

 culty between the Khedive of Egypt and the 

 Sultan, and in 1868 and 1867 by the Anglo- 

 Abyssinian War. The relations between Egypt 

 and Turkey remained undisturbed, and even 

 the serious complication which, in November, 

 arose between Russia and Turkey, did not elicit 

 from the Khedive of Egypt any intimation of 

 a new movement in behalf of the independence 

 of Egypt. The Suez Canal increased the com- 

 merce of Egypt, but failed altogether to fulfil 

 the expectations of the shareholders. 



Abyssinia relapsed into entire obscurity, 

 neither its relations to foreign countries nor 

 its internal condition attracting the least at- 

 tention. Only occasional reports from Chris- 

 tian missionaries or travelling naturalists suc- 

 ceeded from time to time in keeping alive a 

 religious or scientific interest in a country 

 which a few years ago seemed on the point of 

 being drawn into more intimate connections 

 with the civilized world. 



One of the most notable facts in the history 

 of Africa during the past year is the rapid prog- 

 ress of Christianity in Madagascar. The col- 

 lapse of paganism, as far as political power and 

 influence are concerned, is complete, and the 

 Christianization of the whole people only a qTies- 

 tion of time. The spread of popular education 

 encourages the hope that, among the native 

 states, Madagascar will soon occupy a front 

 rank in point of civilization. 



On the western coast of Africa, the Afro- 

 American republic of Liberia continues to en- 

 joy the blessings of peace, but its leading men, 

 appeal to the United States for further aid in 

 the development of their country. During the 

 summer months the President of the Republic 

 himself made a visit to the United States. 



One of the most important events for the 

 VOL. x. 1 A 



South of Africa was, the discovery of the 

 diamond-fields on the banks of the Vaal River. 

 Soon after their discovery, in May, 1870, the 

 Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free States 

 both claimed the territory as their own, and a 

 war about its occupation and possession ap- 

 peared inevitable. The diggers, then on the 

 fields, remained neutral, however, and, as their 

 number was daily increasing by new arrivals 

 of well-armed men from all quarters, they 

 soon became sufficiently strong to defy any at- 

 tempt on the part of either of the above-men- 

 tioned governments to interfere witli the pur- 

 suit of their labors. The diamond-fields may 

 therefore be considered neutral territory. In 

 the beginning, diamonds were found on the 

 surface in goodly numbers and of various sizes. 

 This, of course, did not last long, and the pick- 

 axe and shovel were soon resorted to for regu- 

 lar digging. The yield of diamonds has, so far, 

 been extremely liberal, and though some par- 

 ties have been unfortunate, and returned from 

 the diggings disappointed and in disgust, the 

 majority of the diggers are doing well, while 

 in some exceptional cases theyhqve realized 

 an independent fortune from the sale of their 

 diamonds. In the commencement, during the- 

 months of June and July, there were about 

 500 white men at work on both banks of the 

 Vaal River. The majority of the diggers were 

 engaged on the northern bank, the southern 

 bank being owned by the German missionary 

 establishment at Pniel. The missionaries were 

 unwilling to admit of any digging on their 

 grounds, unless they could share in the pro- 

 ceeds of the labor to the extent of at least 

 one-fourth. The feeling among the miners 

 was, consequently, any thing but friendly tow- 

 ard the missionaries. During the quarter 

 from June 1st to August 31st, considerably 

 more than 1,000 diamonds were found, vary- 

 ing in value from 30 shillings to 1,000 ster- 

 ling. Two steamers, which left Cope Town for 



