"Resolved, That the Chairman of this meeting be instructed to present these proceedings to the Circuit, District, and Criminal Courts of the District of Columbia, at their next several sessions, and to request that the same may be entered on the minutes of the said Courts."

The report and resolutions were unanimously adopted.

On motion of Mr. DAVIDGE, it was unanimously

Resolved, That the secretary of this meeting be instructed to cause these proceedings to be published in the newspapers of the city, and that the chairman be instructed to transmit a copy of them to the family of the deceased. RICHARD S. COXE, Chairman.

JOHN A. SMITH, Secretary.

AFRICAN EXPLORATIONS.

Yoruba and Núpe.

The United States may require, for the benefit of our colored population, most of the Western Coast of Africa. It is wise, then, for our Government to explore, and as far as practicable obtain possession of all eligible and available points. Some years ago, we called the special attention of our Government to the commercial advantages of Lagos and the district of Yoruba, and to our reason to think that England was already adopting measures to add to her treasures the resources of that fruitful and half civilized country. Through the efforts of our ships of war and our African agency a vast and invaluable amount of information may be acquired at little or no expense, and stations most advantageous for African colonization be ascertained. In this number we give extracts from recent explorations, and trust they will receive public attention. The people of color now free in this country and those who may become so, are qualified to be the benefactors of their African kindred, and to establish a Government and build up the Church of God over the vast extent of the African continent. These are events full of benevolence and moral grandeur, which now, more than in any former day, we may anticipate.

A writer in the New York Colonization Journal for this month, states that

"English papers contain the text of a treaty recently made with the King of Lagos, for the cession of the isle and port of Lagos to the British Government. This announcement at first glance appears to be of little significance; but it affords another evidence of the energy and sagacity of the Government of Great Britain in fixing

upon the most important points of the African coast, to develope and profit by the commerce which that part of the world is destined to pour into the lap of civilization. Lagos is situated on an island forming a delta at the mouth of the river Ogun, (which flows into the Bight of Benin,) about a thousand miles east of Monrovia. It is in fact the key to the great Yoruba country, populous and fertile, lying not far from one hundred miles from the seaboard, in the interior. The African Civilization Society, co-operating with other organizations in the United States, have for many months past been engaged in directing attention to this part of the continent, as offering the highest attractions to the colored emigrant, and because affording such prospects for successful enterprise in the departments of commerce and agriculture. Mr. Bowen, the veteran Baptist Missionary from Charleston, S. C., who in the year 1857 published a small work descriptive of the Yoruba kingdom, was one of the earliest friends of Africa to appreciate the value of that district of country for colonization purposes. No part of the kingdom is much more than one hundred miles from the sea on one side, or the river Niger on the other. Its position in regard to the sea and the Niger,' says Mr. Bowen, 'its healthiness, and the facilities with which roads may be constructed, all conspire to make it one of the most important portions of the African continent. If colonized by civilized blacks from America, and properly conducted, it would soon command the trade of all Central Africa, of which it is the key.' Several of the Yoruba towns are represented as surprisingly large and populous. Abbeokuta has some 60,000 inhabitants; Illorin 70,000; Awyaw, the capital, 25,000; Ibadan 70,000, etc.; and if the surrounding tribes of the same family are included, the people who speak the Yoruba language number 3,000,000. These are pre-eminently a trading people, and in all respects superior to the natives of the coast. Here, at the present moment,' says Mr. Bowen, are millions of people, every one of whom may have something to sell, and desire something to buy.' The caravan trade, of which a large part concentrates at Ilorrin, is valued at several million pounds sterling, there being sometimes in a single company of these itinerant merchants, two or three thousand persons. The industry of the people, too, is spoken of as one of the most remarkable and unexpected facts brought to light by modern exploration. No wonder that England has discovered the possible advantage to be derived from the acquisition of Lagos island, from which this favored region is accessible. From the latter point, steamers are already in regular communication with other ports on the coast, for the transmission of passengers, merchandise, and mails; and the United States is happy to avail itself of the facilities thus afforded for the conveyance of the mails to our squadron stationed in those parts. England neglects no means by which African trade may be fostered, while the United States adopts a policy better calculated to repel and discourage."

We now present portions of the report of an English gentleman's journey through Yoruba and Nupe in 1858.

[From the Royal Geographical Journal.]

JOURNEY IN THE YORUBA AND NUPE COUNTRIES IN 1858:

By DANIEL J. MAY, Esq., F. R. G. S., 2d Master, R. N.

Read, June 27, 1859.

To the Right Honorable the Earl of MALMESBURY, &c. &c. &c. FERNANDO PO, 13th November, 1858.

MY LORD:—I have the honor to report to your Lordship my proceedings in pursuance of Dr. Baikie's instructions to me, dated 23d May, 1858, directing me to endeavor to explore some of the less known districts in the east of the great Yoruba country.

I left the encampment on the banks of the Niger early on the morning of the 24th May, accompanied by W. Reader, a man of the Bonu district, and a carrier, a man of the adjacent district of Bede, both in East Yoruba, and through which it was probable I should pass.

My interview with the chief at Ilorin was lengthy and satisfactory, continuing the familiarity adopted between us on my previous visit, my inclination and his curiosity and interest rendering it, I hope, both useful and instructive.

Resting at Ogbawmoshaw until the morning of Monday, 31st May, I then set out for Ibadan, purposing to reach it by an eastern route, passing through a considerable town, Iwo. The first town reached was Ejebo, of a tolerable size, the approaches to which are broader and cleaner, and the town itself is also cleaner and better arranged, than is usual. I here first met a functionary called an "Ajele,” a resident representative of the power to which any town is directly subject, and who takes cognizance of all public matters transpiring. In this case, as in every town which I afterwards visited and found a similar officer, I had first to see him and explain to him my business and objects, and was then by him conducted to the chief of the town. Ejebo is subject to Ibadan, and the tolls taken in the roads approaching it are appropriated by that power. The chief received me kindly, gave me a kid and a few cowries, and assigned me quarters for the night. The next day's journey was to a farmstead, Obagba, the road lying through alternations of the usual light forests or wilderness, and tortuous path through dense jungle. This place was once of considerable size, but, having been "broken" three times, has never recovered. It is now a farm to Iwo, which, on the following day (2d June,) I found to be but about 5 miles distant. Iwo is fully as large as Ogbawmoshaw, very clear and clean, houses substantially built, compounds more compact, and the chief's house quite a wonder to me. The principal novelty in it was two covered porticoes engrafted on the house, supported by thick wooden carved pillars, and forming entrance and audience halls. This style, applied to the residences of chiefs and head men, became common on my farther journey. I was much struck with the apparent paucity of men at this place; the preponderance of females is always

evident, but it seemed here to be greater than usual. In the evening I paid a more familiar visit to the chief, and made him a small present; and in leaving him and his town, left also, I think, the belief in the honesty and truth of white men and their intentions.

About 4 miles from Iwo I crossed the rocky bed of the Obba, now 2 feet deep, and about 60 yards wide; then journeying by a good road through an impenetrable forest, reached a clearance where stands the halting village "Offa;" then by a like road through like forest, reaching the village Lalupawn at 2 P. M., the end of our journey for the day. Between Iwo and Ibadan palm trees are particularly numerous. I found this route from Ogbawmoshaw to Ibadan much frequented by traders taking sheep, goats, fowls, pigeons, &c., principally from Ilorin and the northward to Ibadan market.

I venture, my Lord, to digress a moment, to remark that one of the principal objects of the journey on which I had now set out was to endeavor to open up direct communication between Lagos or the sea and the trading post at the confluence of the Kwora and Binue.

Among the many large towns in the better known parts of Yoruba, enjoying perfect independence, but paying a nominal allegiance to the king at Awyaw, Ibadan, approaching if not equal to Abbeokuta in size and extent, ranks unquestionably first in actual power: they are the soldiers, the fighting tribe of Yorubans; and of this I had perpetual and often painful evidence throughout my journey.

-After passing through the cultivated ground which extends for many miles around Ibadan, and then for some miles through forests, and after accomplishing altogether I estimate S. S. E. (compass,) 15′ we arrived at the river Oshun. This point is 5 or 6 miles below its confluence with the Obba, and here I found it a considerable river about 100 yards broad; we crossed in a canoe, and swam the horse. This river is the Palma of the charts, falling into the lagoon east of Lagos. It is reported to me to have many rocks in it, and that no canoes traffic on it.

Travelling about 4 miles farther southeasterly, we concluded a long day's journey by arriving at Agbom late, an interview with the Ajele and the procuring a lodging occupying the remainder of the daylight My host was the head man next the chief, and he proved an hospitable one. The town wall of Agbom encircles a vast amount of needless ground as uncleared as that outside it. This is not peculiar to Agbom, but it was the first place I observed it: perhaps it is indicative of the expectations of its people. From Ibadan to this place the ground is everywhere strewed with mica, in the corn-fields, about the paths, and it enters into the composition of every stone. delayed at Agbom the whole of the 10th June, from inability to procure a single carrier.

I was

On the morning of Friday, the 11th June, I resumed my journey, leaving Agbom about 7 A. M. A good rising road for about 4 miles brought me to the village of Itaokon. Again resuming my journey on the morning of the 12th, we passed over continuous cultivated ground, through many clusters of fan palms;

passed by or through the small towns of "Agidabo," "Bagu-bagu," and Akibidi; crossed the streams "Sasa" and "Okpa;" and finally, about 3 P. M. accomplished one desideratum of my journey by arriving at the much-talked-of town of I'fe.

I'fe, the reputed seat of idolatry, a large town occupying much ground upon pretty hills, and surrounded by others, presents now no features to render it remarkable above other Yoruban towns. It is subject to and has an Ajele of Ibadan resident. The Mahomedan religion is common in it, and it is just emerging from a fierce civil war. On the death of a late king two factions arose—a legitimist against a slave party, which perhaps may be translated aristocracy versus democracy. The "slave" party have triumphed, and, occupying generally a large section of old I'fe called Modakake, the name "I'fe" is never heard; and that which should represent it is an extensive plot of ruins. My first visit was to the Ajele, by whom I was conducted to the Modakake chief. He summoned his head men, and we had a long interview. The noise and crowd were excessive, for this was the first visit of a European, and there seemed no ability to improve the matter. Having explained my business, a long whispering and consulting took place as to what would be proper to give me. A goat, kola-nuts, and a few cowries, were presented at intervals. The old chief expressed satisfaction at my visit, gave orders about my lodging, &c., when I left, accompanied by the crowd before mentioned, after requesting permission to pay him another visit on the following day.

In consequence of some aggression, all communication between I'fe and Ilesha had been stopped for seven months; a king's messenger, however, was appointed to conduct me and hand me over to the Ijesha outpost. A youth having been with difficulty engaged as a carrier, I set out on Monday morning, the 14th June, from I'fe for Ilesha. Much caution was observed in receiving me; but having satisfied themselves that, though unusual, my visit was honest, I was received with expressions of pleasure, and hope that my journey might be the means of re-opening the communication In the presence of the head men there, I sent a message to the Modakake chief, which I hope and think probably did aid in

the matter.

A stranger, from an enemy, was not to be lost sight of. One of the head men of the village was deputed to conduct me to Ilesha, for which place, after an hour or two's delay, we set out.

By sunset we were very close to the gates of Ilesha, and at a crossroad my conductor now insisted upon our stopping whilst he went forward to obtain the desired permission, &c. About half-past 7 he returned, accompanied by a messenger with a message of welcome from the authorities; so, forming a novel cavalcade, and guided by fire-sticks, we approached the town. The gates were opened with much formality, and we proceeded through the quiet, dark, and deserted streets-if paths bounded by grass ten or twelve feet high can be termed such-through sundry ditches, or along rudely constructed little bridges, to the house of a head man next the chief. Here food