the Expedition into Central Africa. 265 



terest to gain an exact portrait of their life as respects their con- 

 dition, arts, and policy, their language, their external appear- 

 ance, population, origin, and relation to other tribes, or in 

 general whatever tends to elucidate their disposition or re- 

 sources as sharers or agents in coinmerce, or their preparation 

 to receive Christianity. 



It will he proper to ascertain their religious traditions or 

 practices if they have any, distinguishing what is indigenous 

 from the glimmering apprehension of great religious truths 

 which necessarily spreads in advance of the scenes of missionary 

 labour. 



Examine also the state of their intellect generally, as ex- 

 emplified in their social and political arrangements and common 

 traditions, songs, or aranscmenfs, and particularly in regard to 

 their knowledge of nature and their notions of its vast and 

 varied proceedings, as thunder, rain, wind, &c. 



Enquiries respecting commerce and the prospect of its ex 

 tension are to be viewed as of no small importance in this un- 

 dertaking. Every means must be used to ascertain its present 

 nature, channels, and extent, and to determine the existing de- 

 mand for foreign commodities, and the return which may be 

 expected for them. Proper enquiries may also lead to some 

 satisfactory views of its future condition, as indicated by the 

 wants of the native population, or the objects of most import- 

 ance to improve their condition, and the corresponding re- 

 sources for exchange which may arise from a more beneficial 

 employment of their industry. 



Lastly, we may notice the propriety of making enquiries or 

 gathering information with resi)ect to similar enterprises, as 

 whether the natives have traditions of movements of their own, 

 or of the arrival of strangers among them. All that can be 

 gathered respecting Dr. Cowan's expedition will bo acceptable 

 in the highest degree. The elucidation also of an isolated 

 effort to struggle through the difficulties of African travelling 

 should also be kept in view: it was made by a missionary of the 

 name of Martin, who has not been heard of since he crossed 

 the Colonial boundary in December, 1831. He is consequently 

 supposed to have perished in the Gariep, or to have been de- 

 stroyed on its banks, though, as it was his intention to avoid 

 the establishments of Europeans or their lines of communica- 

 tions, there is a lingering possibility of his still surviving. 



The articles fitted for carrying on commerce with the natives 

 have three distinct objects : — First, by keeping up a constant 

 appearance of traffic, to present in their eyes an appreciable 

 motive for this visit to their territory. Second, to conciliate 

 favour, or to procure provisions for tlic purpose of husbanding 

 the resources of the Itixpedition. And tliird, for the purpose 

 of procuring any profitable articles to carry on to the other 



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