Livingstones Expedition. — Yoruba and the Niger Valley. 93 



the rapids of Kebrabassa render this an inferior position in which to 

 commence such an undertaking, which is to be regretted, as the people 

 of the interior seem more disposed to industry than those of the coast. 

 Tlie specimens of cotton contained in the collection sent to the Royal 

 Gardens at Kew exhibit fully the difterent qualities found on the Lower 

 Zambesi and on the Shire. Since then, others have been added from the 

 interior, showing that the cotton grown there is but httle inferior." 



YORUBA AND THE NIGER VALLEY. 



The British government for a number of years past has be- 

 stowed much attention upon the commercial aspects of Western 

 Central Africa, and especially upon the region bordering upon 

 the Gulf of Guinea, including the Valley of the Niger and its 

 great confluent the Benue, and also the countries west of these 

 rivers, comprising Yoruba, Dahomey and Ashantee. 



1. The expedition of Dr. Baikie up the Niger has been re- 

 peatedly mentioned in these notices. Although it gave promise 

 of important results, we have but little information in respect to 

 )\"liat it has accomplished and there is reason to apprehend that 

 It has failed to perform what was expected. Dr. Baikie has 

 been recalled by the Foreign Office, and his apology for not 

 complying with their order has recently been made public. 



2. Two intelligent men of color from this country, Dr. M. E. 

 Pelany and Mr. Eobert Campbell, having visited the Yoruba 

 district with a view to ascertain its fitness for African colonists 

 from the United States, have done much to awaken an interest 

 in that part of Africa and to direct the attention of observing 

 persons to its commercial capacity. A volume published by the 

 latter and a pamphlet by the former of these travelers have 

 contributed to this result. Their impressions of its attractiveness 

 to colonists are decided, and they urge upon their countrymen 

 to go out and engage in' trade and manufacture under formal as- 

 Jrances of welcome and protection from the chiefs of Abeokuta, 

 the chief town of Yoruba. Since the return of Messrs. Delany 

 -^ - ■ - .... J, country 



I of those 



fnd Campbell at the end of 1860, the conditi 

 *^s been such as to absorb completely the 

 ^ho would otherwise have been interested in 

 ^it public men in England, with their usual commercial sagacity, 

 Jave been quick to recognize the opening of a new and rich 

 ^iitre of trade, and to appreciate the importance of establishing 

 ?[«»■ It the influence if not the dominion of British power, 

 ^tiortly after, perhaps in consequence of the publication of Dr. 



