GENERAL NOTES.
The Freedmen.
—The census reports show that in three States, South Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana, the colored people exceed the whites in number. In the first named there are 154,458 blacks to every 100,000 whites; in Mississippi 135,664 blacks to 100,000 whites; and in Louisiana the proportion is 106,372 to 100,000. In Alabama the blacks are 91 per cent. of the whites; in Georgia 89 per cent.; in Florida, 88 per cent.; in Virginia, 72 per cent.; in North Carolina, 61 per cent.; in the District of Columbia, 50 per cent. The colored element in the Northern States is the largest in Kansas, where it is 4½ per cent. The colored population has increased in twenty-seven States and Territories in the last decade. In the United States as a whole there has been an increase of 625 to the 100,000. This state of things means work for all who have the interest of the country at heart, that the increased suffrage shall be intelligent and the new lives a help rather than a burden to the land.—Congregationalist.
Africa.
—The French Government is placing a second telegraphic line between Algeria and Tunis. It was to have been finished by the last of March.
—Work on the railroad from Sétif to Algeria has been commenced. The greatest activity prevails, and the whole line may be finished in 14 months.
—The Belgian Society has charged Mr. Stanley with engaging anew at Zanzibar, for several years, native workmen, who will be employed upon the Congo.
—The sultan of Zanzibar has offered to the celebrated traveler Thomson the mission of exploring the basin of the Rovuma from a geological point of view.
—Mgr. Taurin Cahagua, apostolic vicar of the Gallas, has gone to Berber to install there three missionaries. From thence he will go with the others to Havar.
—M. Irgens Bergh, a Danish archæologist, has arrived at Cairo to devote himself to his favorite studies. M. Insenger, a Hollander, also an archæologist, accompanies him. The field of his scientific exploration will be essentially Nubia and Upper Egypt.
—After a journey in Europe M. de Hesse Wartegg, who has already turned his studies in Fayoum and in Nubia to the Coptic race, has returned to Alexandria to continue them. He is accompanied by Dr. Hociner, a noted botanist. These gentlemen are awaiting the arrival of two other students attached to the expedition, after which they will set out in a caravan for Upper Egypt.
—A French expedition composed of mining engineers and chemists, has started from Marseilles, on the side of the Oxus, to explore the region north of the Zambeze.
—The missionary Hore, of Ujiji, traveled in 62 days the distance from Tanganyika to Zanzibar. He is reported to have observed earthquakes in the months of September and October, 1879 and 1880. The last made various crevasses a metre long.
—A new military and maritime expedition is preparing, with a view to the occupation of the Upper Niger. It will probably set out towards the month of October.
—A new company, the Akankoo Gold Coast Company, Limited, has been added to the preceding societies for the exploration of the mines of the Gold Coast. The mine which they have acquired is situated upon the borders of the River Ancobra.
The Indians.
—Fifteen Indian youth from Capt. Pratt’s school, Carlisle, Pa., were recently received into the Second Presbyterian church at that place.
—Rev. Mr. Hayworth being detained by swollen streams while journeying in the Indian Territory among the Kaws, interpreted the circumstance as a providential indication that he should labor for the conversion of the tribe. He at once instituted religious services. A revival followed, which resulted in the organization of a Presbyterian church of 15 members.
—At the McAllister Mines (Indian Territory), a house for church and school purposes is being fitted up for the use of the Indians. A Sunday-school of 40 scholars will be organized at once. The American Home Missionary Society are about to build a church edifice in the immediate vicinity, the money being nearly all secured.
—Revs. Geo. W. Wood and A. L. Riggs, missionaries among the Dakotas, have, during the past year, put through the press a new edition of Dakota hymns. Mrs. Wood has also prepared a new Dakota dictionary, which is soon to be published. There are now 190 communicants in three churches, under the supervision of the Presbyterians among these Indians, seven new members being admitted the past year.
The Chinese.
—The Chinese University at Pekin, under the presidency of Dr. W. A. P. Martin, numbers 100 students.
—A Chinese mandarin, on reading a translation of Matthew’s Gospel, says: “Its style is perfect. It is quite as good as that of Confucius himself. And as to these New Testament ideas, there is nothing so beautiful in all Chinese literature. The humanity of the Sermon on the Mount I am perfectly fascinated with. Our sages became gods after they had written our reverend classics; but divinity must have come before the writing of these matchless thoughts, these exquisite sentiments!”
—During 1879 there were imported into China from India, under monopoly of the British Government, 11,073,333 pounds of opium, of the market value of $50,700,000. Allowing for the amount consumed in Hong Kong, or re-exported thence to the Chinese in California, Australia and elsewhere, the total importation was not less than 13,995,000 pounds. No other article of importation or exportation equaled this in magnitude or value. The value of imported cotton goods was only $31,400,000; of woolen goods, $7,000,000; metals, $5,700,000; and all other articles together less than $20,000,000. Even the tea exports amounted to less, not exceeding $46,000,000. Silk exports were valued at $40,000,000, and all other articles combined at $11,200,000.—Foreign Missionary.
—The following words from Kobe and Okayama, Japan, are very cheering. They have all the added force that always accompanies letters bearing liberal gifts:
"May God abundantly bless your work, whether among the Freedmen or among their kin in their native Africa, as well as among the Indians and the Chinese. Your Society has a grand field before it, and I hope it will be able ere long to lay a mighty hand for healing upon Africa and another upon China.
"Ever truly in fellowship,
R. Henry Davis,
“Miss. Am. Board.”
"I want to give the grand work of your Society a little push this year, so send you a draft. May your work be prospered in increasing fold as the years go by. The work is one the world over, and the same God is in it all.
“Yours heartily,
James N. Pettee.”