square miles; its population is a little over two millions. The great Kimberley diamond mines are located just west of the territory of the Orange Free State. The Transvaal lies north of the Orange Free State, and is a republic founded by the Boers, who left Cape Colony in 1835; established their independence in 1852, and were annexed by the British government in 1877; took up arms in 1881; self government being restored, an agreement was signed in 1884, by which the State was to be known as the South African Republic. The seat of government is Pretoria, with a white population of ten thousand. One-third of the population of the republic is engaged in agriculture, the lands outside of the mining districts are exceedingly productive, and the demand for farm products is great. The gold mines are the most productive in the world; they have already turned out gold to the value of more than three hundred million dollars, and, according to experts, have still three billion five hundred million "in sight."

Foreign goods for the Transvaal reach it through several ports: Natal and Cape Colony (English), Lourenco-Marques (Portuguese); but they are in telegraphic communication with the surrounding states. Great dissatisfaction has been felt among the British residents of the republic because of the heavy taxation imposed upon them by the government of the State, and their inabiltty to participate in the government, owing to the long term of residence required to obtain even a partial right of franchise.

The gold production in the Transvaal has increased from 208, 122 ounces in 1888 to 3.699,908 ounces in 1898. The total quantity of diamonds found in 1898 in the Transvaal were valued at $212,812.

The greatest interest centers in Rhodesia. This occupies the territory known as British Central Africa and lies directly north of Bechuanaland. The territory was originally controlled by the British South Africa company, Hon. Cecil John Rhodes, manager, and includes the country known as Mashonoland and Matabelaland, with a population of two hundred and forty thousand. These are the localities where very interesting antiquities have been discovered. The total area of

Rhodesia is about seven hundred and fifty thousand square miles-equal to about one-fourth of the United States--and it has a population of from one to two millions; six thousand of them white.

The Kimberley diamond mines, which are located in British territory, just outside the boundaries of the Orange Free State and about six hundred miles from Cape Town, now supply ninety-eight per cent. of the diamonds of commerce, although their existence was unknown prior to 1867, and the mines have thus been in operation but about thirty years. It is estimated that three hundred and fifty million dollars' worth of rough diamonds, worth double that sum after cutting, have been produced from the Kimberley mines since their opening in 1868-69;

and this enormous production would have been greatly increased, but for the fact that the owners of the various mines in that vicinity formed an agreement by which the annual output was so limited as to meet, but not materially exceed, the annual consumption of the world's diamond markets. So plentiful is the supply and so inexpensive the work of production, that diamond-digging in other parts of the world has almost ceased since the South African mines entered the field.

The gold mines of South Africa are, as we have stated, the richest in the world. Recent discoveries lead to the belief that these wonderfully rich mines are the long lost "gold mines of Ophir" from which Solomon obtained his supplies; making "a navy of ships in Ezion-geber, which is opposite Elath, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom; and Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon; and they came to Ophir and fetched from thence gold and also talents and brought it to King Solomon."

SIR. J. WILLIAM DAWSON.

SIR J. WILLIAM DAWSON was born at Pictou, Nova Scotio, He graduated at Edinburg University, and returning. home devoted himself to geology and paleontology. In 1843. he began contributing to scientific periodicals. He wrote a monograph on the Devonian Carbonferous Floras of North America. His work on "Acadian Geology" appeared in 1855.

He became known as a discover of what was called Eozoon Canadense, which he maintained was the earliest relic of animal life. Considerable discussion arose about it. This led him to write his book on "The Dawn of Life." He was opposed to the Darwinian theory, and wrote "The Story of Earth and Man" to refute the theory. He held to the marine origin of the drift deposits, and at the meeting of the American Association at Minneapolis argued in favor of "water ice," rather than "land ice." His work on "Fossil Man" was about the only purely archæological book he ever wrote; it was based on the discovery of the remains of the ancient village or city called Hochelaga, on the site where Montreal now stands. In it he described the prehistoric relics, and compared them with those of Europe, but failed to make as close a distinction as many other archaeologists would consider desirable.

His work on "Eden Lost and Won; or, The Studies of the Early History and Final Destiny of Man, as Taught in Nature and Revelation," as well as the work that followed it: "The Historical Deluge," and another on "Modern Ideas of Evolution as Related to Revelation and Science," were written with the idea of reconciling science and religion. In these he held the traditional view. The last-named work reached a sixth edition, and had great influence over the public mind.

His best books were perhaps "The Meeting Place of Geology and History," "The Chain of Life nnd Geological Time," and "Egypt and Syria; Their Physical Features in Relation to Bible History."

As principal of the Magill University for forty years, he assumed a prominent position as an educator and built up the institution into permanent success and influence. He was appointed president of the Royal Society of Canada in 1882, and in the same year was elected president of the American Asssociation. In 1886, he was president of the British Association. He received the honor of Knighthood in 1884. He died at Montreal, November 19, 1899.

Principal Dawson will be remembered by those who knew him, as a gentleman of kindly spirit, modest and courteous; a good pattern of a Christian gentleman, who never failed to secure the respect, even of those who differed with him in opinion. His convictions were decided and he was free to express them on public occasions, when opportunity offered. There are some points which the consensus of opinion has settled contrary to his conclusions, but his position as to the Bible as a work of revelation, which can endure the light which advancing science might throw upon it, won for him the confidence of all thoughtful men of all Christian lands. His works have been read extensively, and will survive him.

PRESIDENT EDWARD ORTON.

ANOTHER gentleman, who, like Principal Dawson, was educated as a theologian, but became prominent as a scientist and made his mark upon his generation, by the breadth of his views and catholicity of his spirit, has just passed away, namely, President Edward Orton, of Columbus, Ohio.

It has been often said that clergymen, by reason of their profession or education, were unfitted to become scientists, but facts show that it is a mere presumption.

President Orton was the son of a clergyman, Samuel D. Orton, D. D.; a graduate of Hamilton College; studied theology under Dr. Lyman Beecher and Dr. Edward J. Park. He was best known as a geologist, but was at the same time interested in archæology and history. He served on the Geological survey of Ohio under Prof. J. S. Newberry, and afterward was State Geologist for many years. He was elected president of the American Association, when it met in his own city (Columbus), and gave an address on the "Wonderful Century and the Progress accomplished in it."

Prof. Orton was most useful as a teacher; a calling to which he was devoted for more than half a century. From our personal acquaintance, we are glad to give testimony to his courtesy and kindly spirit.

ARCHEOLOGICAL NOTES.

DISCOVERIES IN NICARAGUA.-An article published in the Chicago Tribune, furnished by Mr. Henry W. Fischer, describes the finds in Nicaragua. They are important because they show that there was contact between this country and Asia in prehistoric times. Among others was an image resembling the Chinese Buddha, with almond-shaped eyes, pigtail and all. It was in the shape of a vase, seven inches high, and beautifully enameled and polished; it was made from Nicaragua clay and represents Buddha has sitting.

"There are many places in Nicaragua where mementoes of ancient American civilization of Asiatic origin are to be had for the digging. One is the Province of Nicoya, and another on the slopes of the Volcano Irazu, 8,000 feet above the sea level. Mr. Chable also found several islands in Lake Nicaragua rich in buried treasures of clay, gold, silver, and semi-precious stones. These islands lie almost on the line that will be followed by steamers crossing the lake from the mouth of the San Juan Rivel to the canal at Las Lajas.

"Mr. Chable also dug up gold and jade amulets and all sorts of pottery of ethnological value in the Solentiname group of islands, while the Island of Ometepe, with the two volcanoes of Ometepe and Madera, yielded him fine specimens of stone carving and remnants of household goods of former races that were buried with their owners. Pottery of a rough and uncouth sort is found everywhere about the route of the canal.

"Local tradition has it that the buriers of these pots and jewelry were Aztecs, who came by seas as far south as Nicaragua, where they took the name of Mangues, and after a time drifted into Nicoya. Those who hid their dead in the Volcano Irazu were probably another Aztec tribe, who paddled through the San Juan River and up the San Carlos River, then proceeded along the crest of the mountains until they reached Irazu. Thus it will be seen that the Aztecs, who supposedly came "from the far north," practically followed the route laid down for the proposed twentieth century canal.

"The existence of a race far superior to the aborigines from which the present Indians have sprung, is attested by their buri I places. They had three kinds of graves some walled in, with flagstones on top and bottom; some partially walled, and others without top or bottom, scooped out in the earth. In all of them the diligent archeologist will find pottery made of a coarse, raw clay, that the modern artisan would not touch.

"Mr. Chable, who opened hundreds of these graves, says he rarely came across remains in the shape of bones. The graves are situated from five to six feet below the surface, seldom more, the heavy laja or top stone, five by six feet in size, rest

ing firmly on the flagstone side walls. When the lid is lifted with crowbars, it remains to remove the dust which has sifted through the interstices of the stone in centuries past.

"This done, you begin to look for reward,' says Mr. Chable. All the bodies are laid out facing the rising sun, and as a rule two pieces of pottery are found at the head, one on either side of the cranium that was. At the side, within reach of the hands, there is more pottery, some of it containing a mould, an analysis of which showed remnants of cocoa or toasted corn; and more pottery at the feet, and above the neck some precious ornament of jade, olithoclase, or gold, if the grave be that of a rich man.'

"As to the Asiatic-American's pottery, no living man can make its equal to-day. The fowls of the air, the beasts of the land, and the fish of the sea-they limned them all on their bowls and jars and vases. The birds are full of motion, as though a Japanese artist had painted them with a stroke of his never failing brush. It was evidently the artisan's chief aim to depict the animal world.

"Among the articles dug up by Mr. Chable, and which New York scientists are gloating over, are cups and jugs, household utensils and bells, jewelry, idols, and musical instruments of quaint design. Here are frying pans of clay, varying in size and of ruddy color, in ochre and Titian reds. The handles are shaped after a hundred patterns-snakes, duck and alligator heads, fishtails, caciques' heads, human forms, and what not. Even the clumsiest of nouschold pieces were carved in some rude manner. The large stone used for grinding corn, for instance, is often found in beautiful shapes, the commonest being that of a tiger carved out of volcanic stone. On the jicara, a gourd-shaped drinking vessel, the artist must have spent months of patient toil. The tracery is delicate, the shape full of careless grace; the colors are subtle, yet full of warmth. These vessels, having round bottoms, required stands fashioned like napkin rings wherein to place them when not in hand.

"Love of children must have been one of the traits of the Asiatic-American Indians, for Mr. Chable found numerous specimens of toys for children, articulated dolls, too, all of clay-clumsy, some of them, as if they had been fashioned by youngsters. Arms, legs, and the head work in sockets and are fastened to the trunk by pita fiber passed through holes in the two pieces.

"Many musical instruments were found: whistles in the shapes of birds, mer.'s heads, frogs--all clay, all grotesque, all with the five holes of the octave. Here is a small duck of black earth, with beryl wings and gaping beak. Blow through the aperture in the folded wings and you will hear the five tones of the Chinese lute-F, G, A, B flat, B natural. Two jars of enameled clay, stained red and brown, make up the