We are all aware that Africa has long been called the burying-ground of missionaries. The reasons are, in my judgment, these: In the first place, missionaries in going to Africa generally exert themselves too much on entering the field. The climate is such as rapidly to reduce one’s physical strength. It is a custom among all persons, as soon as they have been informed of their malady, at once to retire to their beds, and demand that a physician be called. The calling of the physician is all right; but it is far better to keep out of bed, and to keep moving; for if you give up and go to bed, you are almost sure to die. Another reason, as I before said, is trying to live on native productions too early after arriving on the continent. I must say, just here, that two-thirds of what you hear about Africa is fabulous. At least it is so in the region in which our missions are established. There is a great deal said about the native bread-tree. There is such a thing as a bread-tree in this country, but it is almost as scarce in the region in which the mission is established as the orange-tree is in the States, and you are aware how plentiful the orange-tree is there. The fabulous tree so called, might very appropriately have been named a squash-tree, because it bears no similarity to bread, and will not answer at all in the place of bread. When green, or before it is plucked, it bears a close similarity to what is known in the States as the hedge orange, and, when cooked, it tastes something between a potato-pumpkin and squash. There are some oranges here, but they are scarce. They do not seem to be a native fruit, because they do not grow everywhere in the country, but only where the ground is cleared up, and the undergrowth cut down. They are not of a rich yellow color like an American orange, but greenish and small. They have quite a delicious taste, somewhat devoid of juice, when compared with our Florida orange, but equal to it in sweetness. We have another fruit here, known as the lime. It bears a close similarity to a lemon; in fact the only difference that I can detect is, that the lemon as a general thing is larger, and not so round. As to the pine-apple, it grows only where it is taken care of; it may grow in the wilds, but never bears fruit. The rice that is grown in Africa is not so good as that in the States. It is really the main thing grown upon the continent in the way of eatables. If you buy two bushels of rough rice, you will not get more than sixteen quarts that can be used, and you must pay from 2s. 9d. to 3s. per bushel. This, I am sorry to say, is about the way with all the country productions.