PREFACE. IX 



aware of the difficulty of correcting errors of long 

 standing — as my views on this subject are corro- 

 borated by the authority of Captain Burton, Mr. 

 Winwood Eeade, and almost all the Officials on 

 the Coast — I have entered fully into the evil ; and 

 should this work stimulate further inquiry, I shall 

 consider that my labour has not been in vain. 



If " the school " to which I allude would exert 

 their philanthropy and power over the Govern- 

 ment in a right direction, they could do much 

 good; and our statesmen, instead of uselessly wast- 

 ing treasure and lives in the dismal swamps of 

 West Africa, would turn their attention to Abys- 

 sinia, and take peremptory measures to ensure the 

 release of the representative of Her Majesty, Captain 

 Cameron, from his chains, and use their efforts to 

 restore the lost 'prestige of the British name in 

 those regions. Were the " Powers that be " to 

 give any encouragement, volunteers are not want- 

 ing who would gladly undertake every risk to 



