—The Council of the Royal Geographical Society have decided on equipping an expedition to Eastern Africa for the exploration of the snow-capped mountains, Kenia and Kilimanjaro, and the country between them and the eastern shores of the Victoria Nyanza. Mr. Joseph Thomson is to be the commander, and, according to present arrangements, he will leave England for Zanzibar to organize his party early in the ensuing year.
—The African Lakes Company, which was formed not so much with a view to financial profits as to co-operate with various missions in furnishing stores for them, is developing the legitimate trade of the country. The 2,000 miles of coast, river, and lake, which this company are endeavoring to keep open, reaches from Quillimane up the Kwakwa River to the Zambezi at Mazaro; from Mazaro up the Zambezi and the Shire to Katwnga, then on towards Blantyre and Matope on the southern shore of Lake Nyassa. Here the small steamer “Ilala” (which is to be purchased by the company) takes goods, etc., to the north-east of the lake, from which point Stevenson’s Road is to be constructed, and thus unite Lake Tanganyika to this extensive line of communication.
THE INDIANS.
—The U.S. Congress has set apart $5,220,674 for the ensuing year for the Indian Department. Of this amount nearly $500,000 is appropriated for the education of Indian children. Last year the only general appropriation was $85,000.
—The Pima Indians have undertaken the erection of a small chapel at Black Water Village. The head chief has cut his hair short, dresses in American clothes and regularly attends church.
—At the Carlisle Indian School, “well” was given one of the boys to incorporate in a sentence. This was the result: “Last week I sick, and he doctor catch well for me and some other boys, too.” Another was given “blind.” He wrote, “Blind means ‘not see’—yesterday I was blind my marbles.”
THE CHINESE.
—The Chinese of San Francisco contributed last year $44,142.53 for the support of the City and State governments.
—For several years past, members of the Central Presbyterian Church of Denver have given special attention to the Chinese of that city. They now have over 60 Chinamen in attendance at Sabbath-school, seven of whom have been baptized and received into the Church.
—A poor Chinaman became blind, and went into the hospital. While there he learned to read the Bible in the raised printing used for the blind. He said to the missionary, “God make me no see here” (pointing to his eyes); “but he make me see so muchee here” (placing his hand on his heart), “I welly glad.”