Let all the talent and experience that are available, be enlisted in the service of the really useful undertakings which multiply around us daily; but, for the sake of everything that is just and honest, let us never cease to brand with reprobation the crude, the thriftless, the knavish speculations which meet us at every turn, stimulating the rash, entrapping the weak and ruining the unwary.

What ideas Mr. Meredyth Powell Jones had on this subject may, in some degree, be inferred by what has been said of his rise and progress, but for a clearer notion of what they were, he must be allowed to speak for himself.

"It is high time, Rigby," said the member for Aber-Pandy to his confederate, as they sat at breakfast one morning shortly after their return from Wales "it is high time that the Prospectus of the New Bank should be issued. I hear that there are a good many things of the sort on the tapis, and the sooner we come before the public the better."

"You mean the African affair, I suppose ?" said Rigby Nicks.

"Of course," returned Jones. "It was the last thing that I mentioned confidentially to our friends the Squires; some of the city men that we know of are quite ripe for it, and as to the fellows here at the West End, those to whom I have privately whispered the matter are quite wild to begin. Have you done anything yet?"

"Yes-a little,” replied Rigby Nicks. "I have spoken to Buncombe, Smasher, Plant, Kyte, and two or three others of my set: we shan't want for Directors.'

"I dare say not," said Jones; "the investment will be only too profitable; but we must have a few solid names as well as those you have mentioned."

"Buncombe is a good bell-wether," observed Rigby Nicks.

"I know that. Yes, there are several substantial men who will follow where he goes. Let us compare lists. But first—is anything settled about the place of business ?"

"I saw Console and Cornice yesterday evening. They are quite prepared to let us have the house in St. Jacob's-square that we were looking at. A lease of twenty-one years, granted in the joint names of yourself, me, and another.

"And the rent ?"

"Two thousand a year.”

"We must have a clause about alterations."

"Oh, the trustees will agree to that, provided we do not interfere with the façade."

"What do they want for the concern altogether,—to buy it out and out ?"

"Forty thousand."

Mr. Meredyth Powell Jones considered a few moments. He then very quietly said: "We'll buy it."

"That's the best way, after all," said Rigby Nicks, as coolly as if the purchase-money were in his pocket. "It's a splendid situation!"

"Which is everything," replied Jones. "Worth all the money by itself."

The locality of the new bank being thus decided on, the originators

opened their portfolios, took pen and ink in hand, and began to busy themselves with the preparation of their prospectus. After comparing notes, suggesting ideas, proposing and substituting names, after writing and rewriting, altering, expunging, and restoring, they finally succeeded in drawing up a paper, which was thus worded:

"THE UNIVERSAL GUARANTEE AND COSMOPOLITAN SAFETY ALLIANCE JOINT-STOCK BANK OF CENTRAL AFRICA.

"To be incorporated by Royal Charter, on the extreme principle of limited liability. Capital, ONE MILLION sterling, in 10,000 shares of 1007. each, with power to raise it to FIVE MILLIONS, which additional capital, when raised, will be offered pro ratâ amongst the holders of the original capital.

PATRON.

THE SULTAN OF SOODAN.

COURT OF DIRECTORS.

Meredyth Powell Jones, of Plas-y-Jones, Esq., M.P., Chairman.
Rigby Nicks, of Diddlington Hall, Esq., Vice-Chairman.

Lord Leatherhead.

Sir Ajax Smasher, Bart.

Major-General Buncombe, K.H.

Admiral Shawtensayle, C.B.

Browne Browne, of Browneville Castle, county of Sligo, Esq., M.P.

Rhys Ap-Rhys, of Rhiadar-Dhu, Esq.

H. Plantagenet Drawman, Esq. (late of the firm of Driver and Drawman). Latham Pickles, Esq., F.R.S., F.R.G.S.

Fortunatus Jenkins, of Pistyll-Jenkins, Esq.

Sir Flyman Kyte, Kt.

(With power to add to their number.)

TRUSTEES.

Sir Abraham Hardcash, Bart.
Peter Stumpey, Esq.

Joseph Till, Esq.

AUDITORS.

General Manager.-Rigby Nicks, Esq.

Inspector of Branches.-A. Wellesley Plant, Esq.
Standing Counsel.-S. Sawder, Esq., Q.C.

Assistant Manager.-Marmaduke Tinker, Esq., C.E.

Assistant Inspector of Branches.-Mr. Philip Goggles.
Bankers (pro tem.).-Messrs. Blunt and Sharpe.
Solicitors.-Messrs. Sickle and Gleanum.
Secretary.-Julius Smirke, Esq.

Principal Office.-84, St. Jacob's-square, St. Jacob's.

"The undoubted prosperity which has attended the Joint-Stock Banking system in the United Kingdom, and especially of those Banks which have been established in London for the furtherance of monetary intercourse with the inter-tropical countries of the East, gives the best assurance of the indubitable success of a Bank established on similar principles for

opening up the resources of Equatorial Africa; and recent events have rendered the present time peculiarly opportune for its establishment.

It is, then, proposed to found a thoroughly independent and perfectly self-sustaining Joint-Stock Bank, in the most accessible and attractive part of the Court-end of our moneyed metropolis, for the purpose of identifying the wealth and intelligence of the white Western nations with the hitherto-neglected and singularly-undeveloped treasures of those of the sable South,-regions known to us only, at present, through the adventurous enterprise of a handful of hardy, devoted, and scientific travellers.

"In the full expectation of creating a new era in the monetary relations of the world, the directors of the Universal Guarantee and Cosmopolitan Safety Alliance Joint-Stock Bank of Central Africa, have given their undivided attention to the means of accumulating deposits of the precious metals for subsequent transfer to this country, as a "rest" on which the shareholders may confidently rely and therein find a positive guarantee; and with this view negotiations have been entered into with his Highness the Sultan of Soodan (who reigns absolutely over a vast territory, extending from Timbo on the frontier of Senegambia to the confines of Sandy Borgoo), with the native Princes of Darfûr and Kordofan, with the Emperor (or "Negus," as he is styled) of Abyssinia, with the King of Shoa, and finally with the Grand Sheikh of Somauly, for the establishment of Branch Banks in the capitals of their respective dominions, which it will be seen, by a glance at the map of Africa, form a belt across the central districts of that mighty continent, from the golden-grained shores of Guinea to the rich and spicy lands that border the Arabian ocean. Already have the potentates alluded to-with a liberality worthy of the most advanced state of civilisation-expressed their willingness to aid in the formation of entrepôts for monetary traffic in the flourishing cities of Timbuctoo, Saccatoo, Kouka, Muddago, Shaboon, Sennar, Gondar and Berbera, thus uniting in one Bund (as it may be termed) all the kingdoms north of the Gebel-el-Kumri, or celebrated Mountains of the Moon, and enchaining (as it were) in one wide interest the commercial relations of Africa from sea to sea.

"Under such flattering auspices it may safely be predicted that by means of the caravans which traverse the auriferous regions of Nigritia and the adjacent gold-producing countries-from Lake Tchad, as a centre, to Tripoli on the north, to the sources of the Niger (or Quarra) on the west, and across the base of the principal watershed of the lofty range of Kilimandjàro towards the east (the most valuable ores being always found in greatest abundance in the head-streams)—the metallic resources of Africa -her gold, her silver, and her copper, the three recognised forms of currency-may be made instantaneously available as a means of exchange for the circular notes of the Universal Guarantee and Cosmopolitan Safety Alliance Joint-Stock Bank of Central Africa.

"It is the want of a general or cosmopolitan currency, which, up to the present time, has mainly tended to cripple the mercantile and industrial energies of a continent that was intended by nature to minister to European necessities. But this restraint having once been removed, a new order of things will inevitably arise. That freedom of commercial inter

course which is the natural offspring of mutual confidence, and the absence of which has ever been a desideratum amongst the native tribes, will now be fixed upon a secure basis; while the growing interest that attaches to all we know, as well as to all we do not know, of the internal wealth of Central Africa, will, by the exertions of the local management, be amply rewarded in the large returns attendant upon the outlay of the Company's capital.

66

The necessary steps have consequently been taken for securing a Royal Charter of incorporation, limiting the liability of the shareholders to double the amount of their subscriptions, and when all the preliminary arrangements are completed the business of the Bank will be com

menced.

"The principle upon which the Directors propose to conduct the business of the Universal Guarantee and Cosmopolitan Safety Alliance Joint-Stock Bank of Central Africa will be those of the most successful of the London Joint-Stock Banks, while correlative advantages to which those institutions are strangers will be afforded, and under this head it may be as well to state that by the Safety Alliance system all accounts, both current and deposit, will be allowed a far higher rate of interest than is practicable elsewhere.

"The Bank will combine an ivory and gold-dust agency business as a distinct department, and THE ENTIRE SUPPRESSION OF THE SLAVE TRADE will be amongst the objects which are destined to enter largely into its composition.

"Prospectuses may be obtained of, and applications for shares may be made to, the Brokers, Messrs. Fustick and Madder, Lillypot-lane; but no application will be considered unless a deposit of 17. per share applied for is previously made with the Company's Bankers, Messrs. Blunt and Sharpe.

"For the convenience of parties residing at a distance from London, a remittance to, or order in favour of Rigby Nicks, Esq., Vice-Chairman, or Julius Smirke, Esq., the Secretary, will be handed by them to the Bank, and a voucher returned by one or other of them immediately to the applicant.

"By the provisions of the Act of Parliament under which the Universal Guarantee and Cosmopolitan Safety Alliance Joint-Stock Bank of Central Africa will be chartered, one half of the capital must be paid up at the time of incorporation and before the commencement of business."

"I think," said Meredyth Powell Jones, when Rigby Nicks had read this attractive document out loud, "I think, Rigby, that it will do."

In this not very improbable conclusion, Rigby Nicks fully concurred, and that its active properties might not lie dormant a moment longer than was necessary, the Prospectus, fairly written out and well paid for, was sent as an Advertisement to all the morning papers.

How it prospered we shall see hereafter.

366

EL MEDINAH AND MECCAH.*

FEW travellers have been able to penetrate into the Moslem's Holy Land, so carefully guarded by the sanguinary fanaticism and bigotry of its own people, and that of the pious pilgrims who visit it from all parts of the Muhammadan world. Still fewer have succeeded in visiting the Holy Cities-El Medinah, with its sacred tombs of the Prophet, of his daughter Fatimah, and of his successors, Abu-Bekr and Omar, despised by Shiahs; or Meccah, the birthplace of the Prophet, with its jealously guarded and exclusive sanctuary! Burckhardt had been there, it is true, but he was prostrated by sickness throughout his stay in Hejaz, and was thus disabled from giving to the world minute and satisfactory descriptions of the places. Others have also added to the gradual accumulation of more or less correct details regarding these mysterious cities and their Holy Places; but Mr. Burton leaves all his predecessors far behind him. So successful was his disguise, that he travelled with the great pilgrim caravan, reinforced from Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Persia, and Arabia, describing the strange features of the daily progress of some fifty thousand human beings through a desert, waterless, burning country; he joined with them in their prayers, passed through all their trials, patiently bore up with all their long, tedious ceremonies, lasting often the whole night as well as the day, visited with them their most holy shrines and sanctuaries, and came out of the ordeal unscathed and triumphant, to place on record one of the most curious and interesting exploits that it has ever happened to traveller to pen.

Mr. Burton had fitted himself for this remarkable undertaking by acquiring, during a residence of many years in India, through his peculiar aptitude for such studies, a thorough acquaintance with various dialects of Arabia and Persia. His eastern cast of features also aided him, with his knowledge of languages, in the various disguises which he was induced to assume. He first started in the character of a Persian wanderer-the vagrant, the merchant, and the philosopher, being, amongst Orientals, frequently united in the same person. This, though it might have covered any deficiencies in the pronunciation of the Arabic, was not a disguise calculated to facilitate his progress among Sunni pilgrims. After a month's hard work at Alexandria he was therefore led to assume the character of a wandering Dervish, changing his title of Mirza for that of Shaykh Abdullah (commonly written Sheikh; but Mr. Burton is one of the few who adopt a correct system for rendering Arabic, Hindustani, Persian, and Turkish words in Roman letters). It was, however, long before he got over the uncomfortable consequences of having first appeared in Egypt as a Persian-the bad name stuck to him: bazaar reports, he says, fly quicker and hit harder than newspaper paragraphs.

No character (writes Mr. Burton) in the Moslem world is so proper for disguise as that of the Dervish. It is assumed by all ranks, ages, and creeds; by

* Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to El Medinah and Meccah. By Richard F. Burton, Lieutenant Bombay Army. Three Vols. Longman and Co.