prevent slave-trading. The
trouble in this colony has arisen indirectly, not directly, as a result
of this tax, as the slave-traders have used it as a pretext for stirring
up the rebellion among the natives. England for many years has been
doing her best to suppress slave-trading, and the slave-traders make use
of any grievance, imaginary or otherwise, in their attempts to overthrow
the power of the white men, in order that their barbarous man-hunting
may not be interfered with. Several men-of-war have been sent by England
to Sierra Leone, and are to be reinforced by others; troops have also
been sent to the assistance of the missionaries and others whose lives
are endangered by the uprising of the natives.

Day by day news from this district becomes more alarming; all of this
part of Africa is at the present time in a state of great excitement,
and it is expected that great difficulty will be experienced in
suppressing the revolt. Early in May, the rebels attacked the American
mission at Rotufunk and killed five of the American missionaries--Mr.
and Mrs. Kane, Miss Archer, Miss Hatfield, and Miss Schenck. Their
bodies have been recovered.

The hut tax, which has been made a pretext for all this trouble, amounts
to about one shilling a year for each member of the population, or, in
case of families, five shillings for each family. The insurrection was
started by a native chief who has given the colonial government much
trouble heretofore.

[Illustration]

During the latter part of May there were first rumors, then reports, and
then confirmed reports that the Spanish fleet was at Santiago, Cuba, and
that it was caught as in a trap by our war-vessels.

The harbor of Santiago is a deep one, with a very narrow mouth, as
stated in a recent issue of THE GREAT ROUND WORLD. The Navy Department
feels extremely happy over the locating of the Spanish fleet and the
fact that it may be kept where it is for the present; this will make
possible the invasion of Cuba and the carrying out of the general plans
of the campaign without fear of having them interrupted by attack from
the Spanish vessels. Santiago is not very well supplied with provisions,
and it will be but a question of time when the Spanish fleet must either
force their way out of the harbor or else surrender. It is to be hoped
that the capture of this fleet will be accomplished without battle, for
battle will mean a large loss on both sides, and it can have but one
u