Those communications were, at the time, most interesting
and useful ; they afforded at once the incentive
and the direction to farther inquiry ; they opened new
objects to commercial enterprize, and new matter for
scientific speculation, on the productions of nature,
and the manners and conditions of society, in a quarter
of the globe hitherto unexplored: further, they
pointed out the road1» and facilitated the means, of ascertaining
the truth of each account, and of estimating
its importance and advantagès by actual visitation and
experiment.
fie it allovVed, that the narrators spoke of what they
had heard, as well as of what they had seen ; let it
be granted that they were mostly ignorant* credulous,
or partially informed; and that, distinctively and in
detail, the accuracy of their representations was little
to be depended on ; yet on points wherein their accounts
agreed, they merited attention and regard ; they
together opened a general view of the society,“ and of
the country ; and afforded matter of such reasonable
conjecture and inference, as might warrant and direct
the course of further investigation . Reflecting on these
and other relations made by unenlightened men, it appears,
that as the great continent of Africa, amidst its
seas of sand, occasionally shews its Oasis, or fertile
isle, rising in each desert ; so, in analogy to the face
of the country, does the blank and torpid mind of its
people, display occasionally notes of intelligence and
philanthropy ; rich spots of genius, and partial scenes
of improved social establishment. Having passed whole
regions sterilized by apathy and ignorance, the result
of superstitions, prejudice, and oppression, the enlightened
traveller comes to a sudden view of some rich
field of character, and contemplates with delight the
free-born spirit and sagacity of the Tuarick of Hagara,
and the ingenuity and benevolence of the Houssan.
To unfold and disseminate these germs of civilization,
is surely a noble task ! What description of men and
country can be more interesting-?'whither could the
refinement of arts ? whither could enlightened philosophy
better tend, to humanize and improve ? whither
could the spirit of trade better direct its course? As
we speculate on the projected intercourse, the noblest
views open to the mind, anticipating reciprocal advantages
: in the dispensation of intelligence and the arts
of peace, carrying therewith complacent manners to
rude and ferocious nations ; and in a full compensation
to the enlightened adventurers, from new materials of
ingenuity and of commerce/'and from new subjects
of scientific inference, extending tire advancement of
human knowledge in all its branches.
b 2