—A business house in Hamburg has sent out an agent to attempt the culture of coffee in the region of the Ogove. A clearing has been made near Corisco bay, where several thousand coffee trees have been planted, promising an abundant harvest this year. The American Presbyterians have a mission some hundreds of miles up the Ogove river, and the project is on foot to open a route this way to Stanley Pool on the Congo.
—The Universities Mission to Central Africa, which was first undertaken in 1860 through the influence of Dr. Livingstone, and afterwards suspended, has recently entered upon a very hopeful career. Bishop Steere has now a well equipped staff of thirty-one European missionaries, of whom seven are ladies. He already understands the language of the tribes among whom he labors. The present work of the mission is threefold: First, that on the island of Zanzibar, which is now of a comprehensive character, including many agencies; secondly, the work at Magila and its surroundings, some forty miles from Pangani, on the main land to the north of Zanzibar; and thirdly, the missions on the main land to the south in the Rovuma district.
—The Missionary Herald for August, the organ of the Baptist Missionary Society of London, contains an admirable map of the Congo from its mouth to Stanley Pool. This Society already has a mission at San Salvador, south of the Congo, between one hundred and two hundred miles from the coast. It recently sent two of its missionaries, Mr. H. E. Crudgington and Mr. W. H. Bentley, on an exploring tour to Stanley Pool for the purpose of fixing a site for a mission at the latter point. The report of their exploration is given almost entire in the Herald, and constitutes one of the most interesting and profitable narratives of perseverance and heroism that has been given to the public in the annals of missions.
—The C. M. S. of London has established a new mission at Uyui, a collection of villages under the control of a governor appointed by the Sultan of Zanzibar. It is described as a very large town for Africa. Mr. Copplestone, one of the early missionaries for Mtesa’s kingdom, took up his abode at Uyui in 1879, and in June 1880 was joined by Mr. Litchfield, who came south from Uganda for the benefit of his health. Mr. Copplestone, who has learned the Unyamnezi language, has built a school-room where he teaches the natives. He is assisted by one of the Frere Town African Christians.
THE INDIANS.
—The Baptist Home Missionary Society has established at Tahiequah, Indian Territory, the “Indian University,” and at present conducts a school in their mission buildings. The society is out with an appeal for buildings and endowments.
—The Board of Publication of the Presbyterian Church supports a Book, Tract and Sunday-school missionary in the Indian Territory. Meetings are held, families visited, and a large amount of religious literature is scattered broadcast. The work is reported to be quite encouraging.
—Mr. Townsend, Special Agent of the Indian Department, has organized an Indian police force among the Pimas. His squad consists of fifteen men under the command of Captain Maichu, a very competent and trustworthy Indian. The primary object of the force is to maintain order in a quiet way, and to educate the tribe in the principles and practices of civilization.
—Rev. Sheldon Jackson, D. D., to whom the country is so much indebted for his admirable work on Alaska, is now on a visit to that territory, superintending the building of two mission chapels, besides attending to other duties. A recent gift of $1,000 from a lady in Zanesville, Ohio, in aid of the one at Chileat, is mentioned as an important factor in the movement.