TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 107 



exception, born traders, buying and selling being with them the chief end of their 

 lives. Only give them the chance, and they will eagerly grasp at it ; and being 

 also naturally friendly and well-disposed, they only require kind treatment to render 

 them confiding and quiet. The only well-marked exceptions are among the natives 

 living along the coasts, who have contracted from Europeans all possible vices, 

 which have been unfortunately encouraged for selfish ends by white men, until 

 now; the present generation, at least, is almost beyond the reach of reform. In 

 the interior the population is much better conducted, and it is with these people 

 that I now propose to open trade directly, by means of the rivers, instead of through 

 the medium of the many savage races with whom we now deal. This would, more- 

 over, open to us vastly increased supplies, which could also be purchased at more 

 moderate rates. By opening new markets also with these people, they would have 

 other things to occupy them instead of intestine wars, and above all it would tend 

 directly to supplant by means of legitimate commerce that still existing unnatural 

 and horrid traffic in human flesh, which, first established and since fostered by men 

 styling themselves Christians, has been the bane and the curse of Africa, but which 

 I feel assured, from what I have observed, as well as from the experience of other 

 recent travellers, would be greatly lessened, and in time altogether stopped, by the 

 means I now recommend. 



The population of Sierra Leone is composed, to a very great extent, of recaptured 

 and freed slaves and their families, and among them are to be found representatives 

 of almost every tribe in Central Africa. These people have become civilized, are 

 Christians, speak the English language, have acquired English manners, and learnt 

 our methods of trading ; they are usually most industrious, and many have acquired 

 wealth. Still, among them an intense love of country exists, and the all but uni- 

 versal desire is to revisit their native land. One very extensive race, the Yoruba or 

 Akii tribe, have already returned to their original seats in great numbers, their 

 country having a sea-coast, and access being easily attained by Lagos and Badagry. 

 But others are not so fortunate, and have not the opportunities of gratifying their 

 amor patrice. But in these persons we have at hand all that we desire, ready in- 

 struments to be employed alike in establishing commerce, and in civilizing, by their 

 own efforts, their less favoured brethren. By opening to these the navigation 

 of the Niger, and aiding them to settle along its banks, we do good alike to them, 

 to the country, and to ourselves; and I have satisfied myself, by actual inquiry, both 

 that these people would eagerly embrace any opening for return, and likewise that 

 they would be received with open arms. Such are the commercial and philanthropical 

 grounds for advocating further progress ; but there are equally strong scientific reasons 

 for prosecuting the inquiry. Numerous tribes are yet unknown, many countries 

 unexplored, cities and towns unvisited, lakes and rivers unsurveyed, and mountains 

 unmeasured. The zoological and botanical novelties are unaccountable, the geologic 

 condition and mineral treasures have yet to be examined, and the economical products 

 carefully inquired into. The climate is not so deadly as has been supposed, and the 

 hitherto dreaded diseases are more thoroughly understood. The expense, too, of 

 exploration, especially if combined with commercial enterprise, would be very 

 trifling, — not one-twentieth part of what was lavished on the unfortunate attempt in 

 1841. If the expedition is to be renewed, no time should be lost ; as if not at once 

 undertaken, all that has been effected in 1854 will be thrown away, and efforts 

 would have to be commenced de novo. During my ascent of the river, I was often 

 asked why white men had been so long in revisiting the place, and why they had 

 not sooner kept the promises they made in 1841. My ingenuity was often taxed to 

 afford explanations and excuses, and the chiefs said that when they saw us returning 

 regularly they would then believe white men, but not before. Two years have 

 already elapsed since my visit ; and it would be of the utmost consequence that 

 preparations should be now made for the season 1857, for which purpose Govern- 

 ment should be urged to come to a decision, so as to enable the requisite arrange- 

 ments to be at once entered upon, as those engaged should leave England early in 

 the spring. 



