population and resources of this vast country, yet in the main locked up from the approach of exterior contact and commerce.

We have shown how, by its own local and intrinsic merit, this route attracts and attaches to itself the whole European system of telegraphs, and also how naturally the Caucasian, Persian and Indian nations are made tributary to it; and, as we progress to the east, other nations, including China and Japan, are all, as it were, embraced in its ample folds. Having, therefore, as we conceive, annexed Europe, Asia and Africa, we have yet America to reach, in order to encompass the whole earth.

From the mouth of the Amoor, in order to reach America, there are several routes proposed. Whichever may be the most practicable should be most unquestionably selected. We do not propose to enter into any lengthened argument for or against any of the particular routes; but we have come to the conclusion that until the route via BEHRING's Straits shall be, upon full and fair investigation, pronounced impracticable, to be the route to which we should give our attention. By this route submarine cables are dispensed with, except at one point-the crossing of the straits and then only to the extent of forty to sixty miles, which may be divided into shorter sections by using islands lying in the straits. The advantage of this route over all others is so patent, in view of the necessity upon any other line of long submerged cables, that it has only to be stated to be at once fully appreciated. We do not, from all the light before us, believe that the physical difficulties in the way are of such a nature as to be insuperable, though they may be very great. Our greatest apprehension arises from the presence of savage tribes along a portion of the route as you approach BEHRING's Straits, over which, as yet, the Russian government has not exercised absolute control. This objection may, however, be very materially modified when we come to know, by actual contact, how far these tribes are to be controlled, even without force.

It is not apprehended that any unusual stubbornness or difficulty will be encountered, not incident to most of the red tribes, both in America and Asia However, the cause is worthy of the trial; and until it is known that they cannot be controlled sufficiently to permit the passage of a telegraph through their country, we shall be in favor of the attempt.

It is not considered that on the American side much difficulty will be encountered, except in a portion of British Columbia; but it is to be hoped that the importance of the object in view will bring sufficient power to bear upon the difficulties to be overcome as to dissipate them all.

What are the probabilities and the prospects of the ultimate success of an overland telegraph to unite Europe with America? Let us see: In the first place, we have come to the conclusion that it can be done; and, in the next place, it is infinitely more practicable and likely to sueceed than by any other route or mode yet suggested. In fact, we have come to the conclusion of its entire practicability, and that it only is a mere question of how much will it cost, and can it be made to pay as an investment? In an international, in a commercial, in a political, in a utilitarian point of view, it soars above all mere questions of cost, of profit and loss, of dollars and cents. It is one of those great works which very properly commends itself to the attention of all governments, because its value or importance cannot be measured by a mere money standard.

If it were possible, we think that the commercial nations of the world should unite in its construction, and donate it to progress and civilization. But as such a plan would be impracticable, the next thing to be done is to encourage the construction of it by private parties by all the means at our command.

Already, while we are writing, the work of progression is busy at both extremities; Russia is constructing her line eastward across the Urals, while the United States is engaged in pushing to the west over the Rocky Mountains and to the shores of the Pacific. Thus these two opposite forces are constantly diminishing the intervening space, and solving most effectually all doubts and difficulties as to the possibility of telegraphic communication overland between America and Europe. Telegraphs, tending ultimately to unite America with Europe by the overland route, via BEHRING's Straits and Asiatic Russia, are in progress of construction on both sides; Russia is determined to build her line to the Amoor, while the contract made by Colonel HIRAM SIBLEY with the United States government, to construct a line to California, insures a line from the Mississippi to San Francisco. Nor is this all; a line is in course of construction from California to Oregon. Consequently it will be perceived that there remains only the intervening space on the American side from Oregon to BEHRING'S Straits, some seventeen hundred miles, and on the Asiatic side from the Straits to the mouth of the Amoor, some two thousand two hundred miles, in all, say about four thousand miles, to complete the circuit of the earth. It would seem a small matter to fill up this intervening gap, when we take into consideration the immense interests involved.

We have already seen many millions of dollars expended in experimenting with long deep-sea cables, upon theory alone, in order to unite distant continents. It certainly looks to be but a small affair, to carry out this plan of connecting the Old with the New World, when we see that success is certain with our present knowledge of working telegraphs, and at a less cost than was incurred in laying the Atlantic cable.

Four thousand miles of land telegraph is no very great distance, when we see what has already been constructed and in progress of construction in America and Europe. The California overland line will be two thousand miles long, and will be constructed for about three hundred and sixty thousand dollars. In fact, the proposed line from Oregon to the mouth of the Amoor can undoubtedly be built for less than the Atlantic cable cost.

There are now in Europe some one hundred and fifty thousand miles of telegraph, and in America fifty or sixty thousand miles, producing a revenue of probably ten millions of dollars annually. Unite all these lines, and make them subsidiary to the great world-encircling telegraph, and it must become one of the most lucrative investments possible.

If this line should be finally constructed, it leaves nothing more for human enterprise to achieve in telegraphic communication, except to fill up gaps and construct lateral lines. It will encompass the earth over a route formed by nature, and to which there can be no rival. It accomplishes every thing, satisfies every interest, penetrates into every nation and country, pervades the whole earth.

Aside from telegraphic communication, there are other interests which would be materially benefited by this exploration and survey.

The Amoor is now open to free trade. A number of American ships and merchants have been attracted there already by its rising commerce. A number of steamers and steamships have been built in the United States, either for commercial purposes or connected with its rising fortunes as a Russian colony.

Again, in view of establishing steam communication between San Francisco and China by way of Japan, Hakodadi might become an intermediate station, which would rapidly augment American commerce in the North Pacific and adjacent coasts and seas; consequently a more thorough survey and knowledge of those remote coasts and islands would be highly advantageous to commerce. And, in this connection, a thorough search for the most favorable points from whence a supply of coal for steam navigation could be obtained would not be neglected. Coal is found on the Fox islands, on Jesso and Suk-hah-lin.*

Our Pacific whaling fleet, of which more than a hundred sail frequent the more remote coast and waters of the North Pacific, would be vastly benefited by such survey as the one proposed. Shipwreck and loss of life would be lessened by a better knowledge of those waters, which consideration should, if uecessary, argue in favor of the proposed sur

vey.

As to Russian America, so little known to our commerce (because of the exclusive grant to the Russian-American Company of its trade and commerce, internal and external) heretofore, we are likely, on the expiration of their grant, in 1862, to have a commerce also in that direction, when it will also be highly advantageous to have a better knowledge of its coasts and waters.

Under all the circumstances of the case, and in view of other benefits to be derived from the exploration and surveys as proposed by Mr. COLLINS, the committee recommend an adequate appropriation by Congress, in order to carry out successfully the views of the petitioner, and for that purpose report a bill.

SOCIETY OF THE AMOOR.-The Society of the Amoor (Amourskaïa Kompania) is established in order to promote and develope commercial and industrial activity in the basin of the Amoor. To this effect, the society propose to establish commercial relations with the native inhabitants in the basin of the Amoor, in order to furnish them with all the objects they may desire, in exchange for skins and other products of the chase, or of their fisheries, and to provide the Russian colonies with all necessaries and other useful commodities; to carry on commerce, interior and exterior, through the ports of the Pacific Ocean, except upon the northwest coasts of America, the Allutian and Curile islands, which are reserved by an exclusive grant to the Russian-American Company until 1862; to found establishments and manufactures to develope the indigenous products of the country; to undertake to furnish various objects to the local authorities throughout the whole of Eastern Siberia; and to keep and maintain on the Amoor and its affluent, the Schilkah, steamboats and sailing vessels. The capital of the society is fixed, at first, at four millions of francs, divided into four thousand shares, of one thousand francs each.

* * * *

COMMERCE WITH AFRICA.

TRADE IN IVORY AND BARWOOD-CAPE LOPEZ-TOBACCO PLANTATIONS-SUGAR CANE-COTTON.

Explorations and Adventures in Equatorial Africa; with Accounts of the Manners and Customs of the People, and of the Chase of the Gorilla, the Crocodile, Leopard, Elephant, Hippopotamus and other Animals. By PAUL B. DU CHAILLU, Corresponding Member of the American Ethnological Society, of the Geographical and Statistical Society of New-York, and of the Boston Society of Natural History. With Eighty Engravings. Octavo, pp. 531. HARPER & BROTHERS, New-York,

1861.

THE work of M. CHAILLU has created considerable excitement among the savans and litterateurs of London and Paris. He is somewhat known in New-York, having been long enough here to be sufficiently known and appreciated as to become a member of two leading societies in this city and of one in Boston. In London the writings of M. CHAILLU have been violently and repeatedly attacked by the Athenæum and other critics, while he is defended warmly by others; and this war has not yet ceased, nor his integrity as a man fully established. But giving a fair degree of credence to his work, we find much in it to claim the attention of the merchant and trader, and no slight materials for the earnest consideration of the philanthropist and statesman.

M. CHAILLU professes to have travelled extensively over the region of Africa included in the delta bounded on the north by the river Nazareth, which enters the sea in latitude 0° 41' S. and longitude 9° 3' E., and on the south by the Fernand Vaz, which falls into the sea in latitude 1° 17' S. and longitude 5° 58' E.

The internal trade with the natives is not direct between the foreign trader or the coast native merchant, but is carried on through various tribes having a limited territory on the rivers. Thus, a number of "middle-men" enforce a tax upon the export of native products, in the shape of commissions or profits upon each article. Thus, a piece of ebony or ivory, belonging originally to a native in the far interior, is intrusted to a dealer in the next tribe below; he, in turn, to the next chief or friend and so ebony, ivory or rare woods pass through a dozen or more hands before it reaches the factory of the trader on the coast. Each of the tribes assumes to itself the privilege of acting as a go-between or middle-man to those next to it, and charges a heavy per centage or profit; and no infraction of this rule is permitted, under penalty of war. (Page 34.)

The far interior tribes are kept in ignorance of the high prices obtained for their products on their receipt at the coast trading points, and are compelled to submit to a loss of 75 or 90 per cent. in the net proceeds, and then take their pay in foreign coarse manufactures. All direct intercourse between the coast and the interior tribes is discouraged, and all possible obstacles thrown in the way of communication between the trader and the first source of supply. Upon the arrival of a ship, the captain is informed, that "never was there such a dearth of ivory," or whatever the captain may want; 66 never were the interior tribes so obstinate in

VOL. XLV.-NO. IV.

24

demanding a high price, never was the whole coast so bare, never were difficulties so great." "There have been fights, captain," "and fever, captain," "and floods, captain," "and no trade at all, captain;" finally, not a tooth to be had. (Page 37.) The author says (page 40:) "The chief product of the Gaboon country is its ivory. This is said to be the finest on the Western Coast. It produces, also, barwood, a red dye-wood, from which is obtained a dark red dye, and ebony, the last taken from the great forests of this wood, which abound near the headwaters of the Gaboon River. I have seen very large sticks brought thence, but the supply is not yet large. The barwood tree is found in great plenty along the shores of the river and its numerous tributary creeks. It is also found on the Moondah and Danger Rivers. Copal is another product of this country, but it is of inferior quality, and is not sought.

"Ivory comes down the river from the interior, by inland journeys, in great quantities. Upwards of 80,000 pounds are taken from the Gaboon River yearly, when home prices are good; for the ruling prices here are so high that traders cannot buy to advantage unless the home demand is very brisk. I suppose that the country from Banoko to Loango furnishes, in brisk years, at least 150,000 pounds of ivory.

"But, however important may be these commercial resources of the Gaboon country, I am convinced that the people will never prosper till they turn their attention more to agricultural operations, for elephants must finally disappear. This, indeed, is the great evil of all the nations of Western Africa. The men despise labor, and force their women and slaves to till the fields; and this tillage never assumes the important proportions it deserves, so that the supply of food is never abundant, and, as will be seen further on, the tribes, almost without exception, live from hand to mouth, and, with a fertile soil, are half the time in a state of semi-starvation."

One of the leading articles of export from the Gaboon country, a few miles north and south of the equator, is barwood, a red dye-wood. The continual demand for foreign fancy woods, in the American market, will require a regular supply of those that can be obtained from the interior of the Western Coast of Africa and other accessible portions of that part of the world. In fact the trade offers large inducements for the investment of capital from this country. Of the production of barwood, M. CHAILLU says:

"Barwood, as I have before explained, is a red dye-wood. It is the trunk of what the natives call the ego-tree, a large, tall, very graceful tree, with abundant branches high up, small bright green leaves, and a beautiful smooth reddish-colored bark. It is very abundant in the forests of this part of Africa. In fact, the supply may be considered as inexhaustible, the labor of bringing it to market being the most costly part of its production.

"Though great traders, these natives have no ideas about laying up a store of their products before it is wanted. This is what detains tradingvessels so long on the coast. When a vessel comes for barwood the news immediately spreads all about the neighborhood, and the men bestir themselves to get a supply down. There is great excitement among the villages; and this, particularly, if it happens that the chief of the village has friends among those to whom the captain has given his trust '—that