into Central Africa. 9.G7 



■fronder the jostling dangers of climate, prIvaUon, and liostHily, 

 ill the prolific abfindaiice natural to those regions, and leave us 

 iittlc wiser than before. We have something greater than this 

 {limed at in the Instructions : of which object the comparative 

 character is, that it occupies less space, requires more time, and 

 ■offers greater advantage. For details respecting these we refer 

 to the Instructions themselves. 



While Ave acknowledge then that it would not have been wise 

 to have sacrificed in this case on behalf of objects having more 

 romantic novelty and less usefulness, the facilities presented by 

 the peculiar character of this expedition for soundinu: closely 

 the depths of nature's capabilities and the condition of savage 

 life in the regions it will traverse, we must not forget that 

 mere territorial discovery of a general and extended character 

 is more to us than merely a desirable event. Our position 

 renders it every da^' more and more a necessity that we should 

 measure the intensity of savage strength, and gauge the depth 

 of barbarian resources in the untraversed regions of our con- 

 tinent : It is^ometliing to know the sources of trade they may 

 afford, but it is of more value by far to know the sources of 

 disturbance they may inclose. Tiiere are wide territories which 

 are apparently possessed by tribes closely allied, and easily 

 susceptible of union ; their views and habits must be under- 

 going- a rapid change ; and a measure of years easily numbered 

 may enable them to become very destructive, if such he their 

 ■desire. It is thouglit a considerable effort, according to colonial 

 measurement, to pursiie and reduce a hundred pedestrian rob- 

 Ijers. Could Ave then expect prosperity or peace to abide in 

 our more distant provinces, if a native tribe stood in hostility 

 against our frontier, in possession of a few hundred horses ? 



We may expect that Christianity, civilization, and commerce,, 

 hiay repress or pacify the ambitious or marauding temper of 

 our neighbours. We trust it may be so, and that the Christi- 

 anity and civilization of our own public transactions Avill offer 

 to the eye and experience of the barbarian a peace-speaking 

 and sedative example. Our confidence rests more surely on 

 the efforts of the Missionary, whose endeavours have become 

 everywhere full of hope, since in these latter times Christianity 

 has become practised as of old, in diffusing civilization. The 

 present-undertaking is of vast importance in that point of view. 

 It goes to measure, map and ascirtain, it goes to tell Avhat and 

 in what way accessible may be the swarm of two millions of people 

 which has been guessed to be tlie population of the great tra- 

 pezium which it is instructed to traverse. This result equally 

 with others requires the caution and leisure in its proceedings 

 •which the Instructions enjoin. It remains to be determined 

 whether it be adviseable to attempt any farther discovery from 

 this point than the Expedition has now undertaken. Probably 



