386 J A xM A I C A. 



although the richefl; have many wives, the pooreft are not thereby 

 precluded from having one or two; in fhort, that an unpaired man 

 or woman is leldom or never (cen. 



Thus of many hindrances to population in Europe, not one takes 

 place in Afric ; and fuch is the rapidity of propagation here, that it 

 fhould feem there would be a fuperabundance of inhabitants, if 

 the flave trade did not take fo many off. Certain it is, that in many 

 parts of Afia the climate and other circumftances are fo much more 

 favourable than the foil, that whilft the people multiply, the famines 

 deftroy; for this reafon, in fome parts of China, fathers fell or ex- 

 pofe their fupernumerary children. It feems from hence very pro- 

 bable, that Afric not only can continue fupplying the Weft Indies 

 with the fame quantities as hitherto j but, if necelTity required it, 

 could fpa-e thoufands, nay millions more, and continue doing the 

 fame to the end of time, without any vifible depopulation. 



Thefe circumftances, together with the incurable ignorance and 

 unfls-ilfulnefs of the natives, fpread over a country of fuch extent, 

 abounding with gold and a multitude of other rich commodities, 

 highly prized in Europe, feem to point it out as an obje<fl of moft 

 valuable commerce to the trading and manufaduring nations of 

 that quarter; we find accordingly, that Britain alone employs 

 50,000 tons of ft:jipping in it, and imports from thence to the 

 amount of above half a million fterling, exclufive of the flaves. 



The populoufnefs of this country, and fpirit of the people, make 

 it reafonable to fuppofe, that the conftitution of flavery has been of 

 fome thoufand years exiftence among them. Their commerce in 

 flaves muft be fixed exceeding early. Jofephus, giving an account 

 of the trade carried on by Solomon [r] with Ophir, which he 

 places in Africa, mentions that, " befides gold and filver," there 

 v/ere brought to the king, " x, -m-oXvg eKstpixi;, AlSiovrsg re, x, "anSriJcol^" 

 *' much ivory, Blacks, and monkeys," which are the lame com- 

 modities that form the chief part of their trade at this day. Solo- 

 mon however had no occafion for any great number of Blacks j 

 they were bought perhaps chiefly for attending the fcraglios of 

 princes, high-priefts, and other great officers of ftatej or for adding 

 variety to their retinues. Jn fome of the fubfequent ages, from the 



[?•] About the year before Chiift 1000, 



decline 



