384 REMARKS ON 



I shall endeavour to state what I consider the 

 most economical and efficient method of pro- 

 ceeding, keeping in view the peculiar character 

 of the people and the extraordinary formation 

 of their country ; and, deeply sensible of the im- 

 portance of the subject, can only regret that 

 the death of my lamented friend Dr. Briggs has 

 prevented its being treated by a much abler hand. 



An examination of the map of Africa will 

 show that between the river Gambia and the 

 mouths of the Niger there are no large naviga- 

 ble rivers by which the interior of the country 

 can be reached with that safety, economy, and 

 despatch so essential to mercantile transactions. 

 From the want of roads and the absence of any 

 regular system of government on the sea-board, 

 land travelling is impracticable for Europeans, 

 even if the climate would permit it ; which me- 

 lancholy experience has proved to the contrary : 

 and the history of our settlements on the coast 

 proves that they cannot have any material influ- 

 ence upon the habits and manners of the great 

 bulk of the inhabitants. 



It is evident, then, that the only means we can 

 adopt with any probability of success lies in 

 following the only channel which Nature has given 



