482 ACROSS AFRICA. [Chap. 



I firmly believe that opening up proper lines of communica- 

 tion will do much to check the cursed traffic in human fl.esh, 

 and that the extension of legitimate commere will ultimately 

 put an end to it altogether. 



But I am by no means so certain of the rapid extinction of 

 slavery as a domestic institution. The custom is so deeply in- 

 grained in the mind of the African, that I fear we must be con- 

 tent simply to commence the task, leaving its completion to our 

 descendants. 



And with regard to education and civilization : we must be 

 satisfied to work gradually, and not attempt to force our Euro- 

 pean customs and manners upon people who are at present un- 

 fitted for them. Our own civilization, it must be remembered, 

 is the growth of many centuries, and to exj^ect that of Africa 

 to become equal to it in a decade or two is an absurdity. The 

 forcing system, so often essayed with so-called savages, merely 

 puts on a veneer of spurious civilization ; in the majority of 

 cases the subject having, in addition to the vices of his native 

 state, acquired those belonging to the lowest dregs of civiliza- 

 tion. 



Let us, therefore, work soberly and steadily, never being 

 driven back or disheartened by any apparent failure or rebuff ; 

 but should such be met with, search for the remedy, and then 

 press on all the more eagerly. And so in time, with God's 

 blessing on the work, Africa may be free and haj^py. 



