202
Catalogue of the British Section.
^"2,000,000 in 1873, and that the imports will reach £ 1,500,000, which would give a total commercial movement of ^3,500,000; a larger sum than is exhibited by three not unimportant possessions put together, viz., the Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands > Tasmania, and Western Australia.
Manufactures.
In Kambia some attempt is made at manufactures. From the cotton shrub that grows near every house the women pluck the raw material, from which they spin a coarse strong thread, which is woven in a native loom made of hard wood and leather prepared 1 by themselves.
In the verandahs of the native houses the country cloth, from which are made tobes. and other articles of wearing apparel, may be seen in process of manufacture, within a few feet of the plant still laden with the opening seeds, from which the material of the thread is plucked whenever it is required.
In the circular gate-houses leading to the courtyards of the better classes the blacksmiths may be seen making hinges, nails, and other common articles from native iron. The same sort of ore that is to be found at Sierra Leone is also to be found in the interior. But though it is neglected on the coast, it is smelted in rude furnaces at Kambia, and is the material from which the blacksmiths make all the iron articles required in that district.
The negroes of the interior may also be seen tanning leather, colouring it with native dyes, and making sandals, shoes, and saddles.
In every village they are busy manufacturing oil for their own consumption and for the European markets. The value of the oil so manufactured and exported last year to Europe exceeded ^400,000. This manufacturing industry is altogether carried on by the negroes beyond our settlements.
At Elmina there are a considerable number of natives who have been trained by the Dutch as masons, carpenters, and blacksmiths. The native houses are strongly built of stone. At Cape Coast, eight miles off, the native houses are built of mud, and there is- very little attempt at industry to be seen.
The German missionaries at Akropong give technical instruction in their schools. They are zealous, and live in a healthy district, but, as yet, they have made no impression, beyond a very limited area.
At Lagos, the liberated Africans, who have emigrated from Brazil, are disposed to be industrious. In this respect they are a'great contrast to the liberated Africans of Sierra Leone. They number about 6,000, and are rapidly increasing.
The chief articles of export are Gold Dust, Palm Oil, Cotton, Indigo, Shells,. Ground Nuts, &c.
The articles exhibited by Mr. Pope Hennessy, C.M.G., lately Administrator-in- Chief, and Mr. Salmon and others, in behalf of the West African Settlements, are specimens of the Characteristic Trinkets of the Settlements, a Collection of Land Shells,. Fancy Groups of Leather, Articles of Food, Specimens of Gold Dust, Monkey Skins. Ropes of Ashantee Make, Pipes and Smoking Reeds, Sandals, Wallets, and Native Manuscripts, Native Looms, &c.
JAMAICA.
Jamaica lies between 17 0 39' and 18 0 36' North latitude, and between 76° 3' and'' 78° 34' West longitude. It is calculated to contain about 6,400 square miles, or 4,080,000 acres. A range of mountains runs from East to West, occasionally rising to a considerable height, especially near the East-end, where the Blue Mountain Peak is found to be about 7,600 feet above the level of the sea. Mr. J. G. Sawkins, F.R.C.S., from observations taken in July, 1861, makes it 7,318 feet. On the North side the land rises into hills, ofterti