AFRICA. 



to the English. The aged Akhund, who is a 

 violent hater of British influence, and enjoys 

 immense respect not only in his own little 

 country, but throughout the whole of Afghanis- 

 tan, repeatedly demanded that Shere AH should 

 immediately break off all relations with Eng- 

 land, reproaching him with hypocrisy and sub- 

 serviency to the Giaours. Having convinced 

 himself that the Amir still hesitated to take a 

 decided step, the Akhund, on his own author- 

 ity, called upon the Kadis of Cabool and Can- 

 dahar to declare a holy war against the Eng- 

 lish. In consequence of this, a great popular 

 demonstration was made under the auspices 

 of the clergy, and Shere Ali began to prepare 

 for war. The taxes on agriculture and manu- 

 factures were considerably augmented, and each 

 house had to furnish a certain amount of iron 

 in the form of kettles, pots, and similar articles 

 for casting cannon. The casting operations 

 have proceeded very slowly not more than 

 three or four guns per month but the raising 

 of troops has been rapid enough. At present, 



it is said, there are 66,000 men in the neigh- 

 borhood of Cabool ; and in all the provinces a 

 conscription is going on. 



Upon the breaking out of the war with Rus- 

 sia, the Sultan of Turkey sent an embassador 

 to Shere Ali with presents. He did not reach 

 Cabool until September, owing to the delay on 

 the part of the Amir in granting him permis- 

 sion to enter his country. Upon his arrival 

 the Amir refused to accept the Turkish pres- 

 ents, unless the embassador should declare 

 that no conditions were connected with their 

 acceptance, such as, to break off all intercourse 

 with the Russians, and to form an alliance with 

 the British. He declared himself unable to 

 assist Turkey, as he was too far distant and too 

 weak ; nor could he ally himself with the Brit- 

 ish, as long as they held territories which in 

 reality belonged to him. 



AFRICA. The area and population of the 

 different divisions and subdivisions of Africa 

 were estimated as follows at the close of 

 1877: 



An important change took place in 1877 

 in the political aspect of Africa. An inde- 

 pendent state, the Transvaal Republic, after 

 a separate existence of exactly twenty-five 

 years, ceased to exist, and was incorporated 

 in the British dominions. The British com- 

 missioner, who had been appointed to watch 

 the affairs in the republic, came to the con- 

 clusion that, if the inhabitants were per- 

 mitted to proceed unrestrained, they would 

 not only bring about their own destruction, 

 but would also endanger the British colonies. 

 Under these circumstances, he considered it 

 advisable to proclaim the annexation of the 

 country to the British crown, which he did 

 ion April 12. (See TRANSVAAL REPUBLIC.) 



The Cape Colony, which received a new 

 governor in March, in the person of Sir Bartle 

 Frere, was the scene of a Caffre war in the 

 latter part of the year, which resulted in the 

 acquisition of new territory. (See CAPE COL- 

 ONY.) 



The blockade of the coast of Dahomey by 

 British men-of-war was raised in May. 



Advices from Congo, dated January 15th, 

 stated that the British war vessel Avon had de- 

 stroyed seven villages on the Congo River, and 

 killed three natives, as a punishment for plun- 

 dering the American schooner Thomas Nicker- 

 son, of New York. This vessel had been cap- 

 tured by the natives, and about thirty tons of 

 coffee were carried off up the country. She 

 was fired by the Avon, in order to prevent 

 further plundering. 



The King of Gaboon died during the early 

 part of the year, aged nearly one hundred years. 

 His son, Adande, on succeeding him, abolished 

 a number of objectionable customs. He dis- 

 charged the hundred women of his father's 

 harem, liberated fifty slaves, and abolished the 

 sacrifice of human beings at religious rites. 



Among the works of the year containing 

 information on Africa are, V. L. Cameron, 

 "Across Africa" (2 vols., London, 1877); M. 



