OUR COMMERCE WITH AFRICA. 355 



Britain to promote, by all means in her power, 

 the civilisation of that country. 



The trade with the west coast of Africa extends 

 from the river Gambia to Angola, and embraces 

 an extent of nearly four thousand miles of coast. 

 It may be divided into the stationary and floating 

 traffic ; the former being carried on with the 

 British settlements on the Gambia, Sierra Leone, 

 Cape Coast Castle, and Accrah ; the latter being 

 on the principle of floating adventures, a vessel 

 and her cargo being entrusted to the care of the 

 captain, who trades up and down the coast, or 

 enters some of the large rivers, where the cargo 

 is bartered for produce. 



The trade is essentially one of barter, British 

 manufactures being exchanged for African pro- 

 duce ; it is free and unfettered, the only custom- 

 houses being at the European settlements, and 

 its nature may be judged of from the following 

 abstract of the imports and exports. 



Exports to the western coast of Africa, British 

 produce and manufactures (from Porter's Official 

 Tables) : 



