We present here this unique representation of the Garden of the Hesperides, a compendium of the domestic, social, moral, religious, literary, and political economy of Africa; in a word, the entire social science of those two peoples, Ethiopia and Egypt, epitomized with no maudlin superstition, but conceived and couched in beautiful legendary tradition, handed down from the remotest period, with tender emotions and affectionate reminiscences of high regard for their great progenitors.
Explanations of all the deities with their attributes, will be found in the chapter on the religion of these people, which require no repetition here. As national and family emblems they have mottoes and precepts and full notes of explanation are given.
1. PHOENIX, motto: Area alon ale watea (we regenerate ourselves).
2. RAM, precept: Alafia, lakari, ore (peace, patience, friendship).
3. THUNDERBOLT, precept: Imolli ti orun (light from heaven).
4. GREAT SERPENT; first precept: Aya odo (wife of thunder, or river Niger, wife of river Nile. Second precept; Ise elarun ma divan (fear not God's works).
5. PYRAMID, precept; Bi elorum pellu (the Lord has been merciful to us).
The philosophy of Ethiopia and Egypt was replete with beautiful ethical instruction, the Garden of the Hesperides being a legendary or ideal consummation of their entire social polity; hence, the mottos and precepts here given with this ideal compendium are illustrative of the great original design of the legend to inculcate ethics and religion. The hieroglyphical abridgements comprising the symbols here explained, are given in full in chap. x. with translation.
Next in order, we present an ideal symbol of the compendium of the progress of modern African civilization, designed to represent the moral, religious and physical aspect of the requirements and demands of the people and country of that continent; and land prolific with all the productions of the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms, preeminently excelling in flora and fauna of all other quarters of the earth, yet behind and below all nations in the march and attainments of man.
Our compendium is designed to illustrate (unlike the Garden of the Hesperides) not what had been attained by great efforts and the high civilization of the ancient Africans, but that which is now required and demanded of the people of the present day of that race. A continent and race are to be redeemed and regenerated; this can only be accomplished by their own efforts, under the guidance of an all wise Providence and His grace; and in addition, the aid of the civilization of the Christian nations of the earth should be tendered.
This duty must be brought before the world, presented on a plan, in such a manner as to be appreciated by all Christian philanthropies as part of the history and literature of the times in which they live. Every end must have a means adequate to its attainment; hence, the mighty work of the age of regenerating a race should have the favor of all modern civilization. To attain this, universal attention must be elicited. Hence, our object and method in presenting such a work as this. We proceed to an explanation of the symbol of modern civilization as shown:
1. Giraffes, motto: Nitilu (the highest point), the same as excelsior.
2. Great Hydra, precept: Olorun tobi li obba ("God is the great King."), Second precept Iroju li ohun gbo. ("Perseverance is everything.")
Phoenix, Ram, and Thunderbolt: motto and precepts the same as given, except on the Ram in this symbol, when the precept alafia (peace) alone is given.
The modern compendium is a combination of a part of the ancient mythological symbols with modern, to facilitate the propagation of great principles underlying this mighty work of regeneration. The phoenix, ram, and thunderbolt are now well understood to be of the ancient polity, but the four flaming torches in addition to the thunderbolt are of modern origin, and belong to the present people of Central Africa. The baton is called ise(club of Shango), and the blazing or burning end is called owo ina(flame of fire). These clubs of Shango always accompany the real head or skull bone with horns of a dead ram; and by the common people, especially those of passing caravans, are called "Shango torches." They are doubtless, in this composition as now found in central Africa, the traditional symbolic representation of the ancient Jupiter Ammon; hence the combination as here given.
A monster serpent, a two headed hydra, is boldly placed in our pathway, sustained by dragon on either side entwined in coils. This is a symbolic representation of the great river Niger, one head of which, doubtless, originates in the Kong Mountains, and another, that of the river Tchad, a tributary of the Niger, in the famous lake of the same name; the dragons representing the branches which flow in and strengthen the Niger along its entire course, presents itself in a dreadful and defiant attitude, as an obstacle to be subdued and utilized before our progress can be effective as central Africans.
A giraffe in all ages a favorite among the ancients, and most innocent, delicate and timid of the wild animals, fearlessly attacks the dreaded monster on both sides, crushing beneath its feet the strengthening tributaries, symbolic of self exertion and perseverance; while in the centre stand the moral admonitions of the great work before us, symbolic of regeneration, guided by light from heaven, impelled by principles of peace, acknowledging only and trusting in God as the great King, who will safely lead us, encouraged by perseverance.
Thus are presented the ancient, the past, and prospective that which is to and most assuredly will come, compendiums of our civilization.
All that is good and desirable in African polity and economy, and there is much for which they get no credit, we shall retain and endeavor to improve; and all that is good and desirable in the civilization of the other races and peoples, we shall emulate and endeavor to profit by, and all that is demoralizing and objectionable in all races and peoples of whatever degree of civilization, we shall reject in this our progress of civilization, as tending to degeneration, and thereby fatally pernicious to the desirable social polity.
