separate the Black from the White population, has alone penetrated to any extent into the country of these before unenlightened savages, —carrying with him his religion and his manners, and converting thousands to the Mohammedan faith. The eagerness with which all classes of people listened to our proposals for establishing a frequent communication by means of European merchants, and the protection promised by the sheikh to such as should arrive within the Sphere of his influence, particularly if they were English, excites an anxious hope that some measures will be adopted for directing the labours of a population of millions to something more congenial to the humanity and the philanthropy of the age we live in, than the practice of a system of predatory warfare, which has chiefly for its object the procuring of slaves, as the readiest and most valuable property to trade with, on every appearance of the merchants from the north at their markets. Every probability is against such a barter being preferred by the African black. Let the words of the sheikh himself, addressed to us in the hearing of his people, speak the sentiments that have already found a place in his bosom :—“ You say true, we are all sons of one father ! You say, also, that the sons of Adam should not sell one another, and you know every thing ! God has given you all great talents, but what are we to do ? The Arabs who come here will have nothing else but slaves: why don't you send us your merchants ? You know us now ; and let them bring their women with them, and live amongst us, and teach us what you talk to me about so often, to build houses and boats, and make rockets.” The reader will conceive with what exulting hearts we heard these words from the lips of a ruler in the centre of Africa. - The return which European traders might, in the first instance, obtain, would not, probably, be sufficient to employ large capitals, but that would annually improve ; and the great profits would, in some measure, compensate for the deficiency. The propensity in the natives to war upon and plunder their neighbours, from the profit arising from such a system, would gradually subside, when other more profitable occupations were encouraged amongst them. The Kanemboos who inhabit the northern and eastern borders of the lake Tchad are a bold and hardy people, extremely expert with the spear, swift of foot, and practised hunters. The tusk of the elephant, the horns of the buffalo, both which may be obtained at a very low price, and in exchange for English goods, are eagerly bought even at Tripoli, and at all the European ports in the Mediterranean, at high prices: the cultivation of indigo, a l s o , of a very superior kind, might be carried to any extent, as it now grows wild, as well as senna, in many parts of the country. The zibet, or musk from the civet cat, is also to be procured, about two hundred per cent, lower than it will sell for in Tripoli. The following are the prices in Bornou, of some of those articles which would be most: esteemed in Europe, viz.— Ostrich skins, from three to six dollars each. Elephants’ teeth, two dollars the 100 lbs. Eaw hides may also be purchased, at about two dollars for 100 skins.'' ; *’ '■ ■ _ ' .................. Probably the strong desire of the sheikh to improve the state of his country, and the habits of his people, cannot be better exemplified than in his having given me the designs for three coins, which he entreated might be laid before the king of England, with his request to have the stamp and apparatus for striking money, so that he might introduce a more convenient medium of exchange than the one at present in use amongst them; one of these pieces of money he intended should be of gold, a second of silver, and the third of iron. This chief, also, as well as all the principal people, entreated that some one of our party should remain in their country, “ to receive,” as they said, “ the English merchants that were coming.” And it was under the idea of securing to ourselves the great advan
27f 24
To see the actual publication please follow the link above