The Ethnology and Clumatology of Central Africa. 199 
that in many respects the Scots are as superstitious as many 
of the Central African tribes, that some of their customs are 
almost as barbarous, that their traditions point to the un- 
mistakable fact that they have a common origin with the 
primitive folk, and that their nineteenth century civilisation 
is only a more rapid development of the capabilities possessed 
by the Central African of to-day. This, doubtless, may not 
be at once apparent ; but in speaking to such an audience, I 
need only remind you that the telescope, the microscope, and 
spectral analysis have done much to elucidate an exact com- 
prehension and knowledge of physical science. In a similar 
way, by utilising the means we have at hand for investigating 
primitive nations, we may dissipate preconceived conceptions 
and ascertain the truth, although the truth may often be a 
severe blow to our self-conceit, for it will assuredly prove 
that there is remarkably little difference between the son of 
the bondmaid and the son of the free. 
Before making any remarks upon the ethnology of Africa, 
I shall refer to its climatology, for this very good reason—the 
knowledge of climatology is necessary in order to enable us 
to understand the mental, moral, or even physical condition 
of any race, for climatology comprehends a considerable 
amount of knowledge. It not only refers, as is so commonly 
understood, to mere weather, but comprises the knowledge of 
the situation of a place upon the globe, its altitude and the 
configuration of the surrounding country, its means of com- 
munication with other districts or lands; its meteorology, 
that is to say, the temperature, rainfall, barometric pressure 
and winds; its geology, and, in addition, its state of cultiva- 
tion, its capacity for cultivation, its condition with respect to 
animal life, and the density or otherwise of its population. 
We find that Central Africa presents striking peculiarities 
in most of the points I have mentioned above. It forms, as 
it were, an isolated entity, cut off from communication with 
the rest of the world, both civilised and uncivilised, by its 
peculiar physical conformation. Roughly speaking, we can 
describe Central Africa, as I think was first done by the late 
Colonel Grant, by comparing it to a soup-plate turned upside 
down. The rim of the soup-plate represents the low-lying 
