TRADING WITH CENTRAL AFRICA. 405 



steam-boat at the time appointed ; but after pay- 

 ing well for the first ten tons of oil, which would 

 establish their confidence and stimulate them to 

 exertion, any quantity would be obtained in the 

 future trips. 



The advantages of this plan I consider to be, 

 that the extra risk beyond a common African 

 trading voyage would be confined to the steam- 

 vessel and her cargo ; that a direct trade in their 

 staple production would be opened with the 

 Eboe people, rendering the loading of the vessels 

 independent of the caprice and extortion of the 

 chiefs upon the coast ; that the safety of the pass- 

 age to the interior would be insured and facili- 

 tated through the only part of the river where 

 any danger may be apprehended ; that the traders 

 in the interior, assured of the regular return of 

 the steam-vessel, and accustomed to the pre- 

 sence of, and to trade with, Europeans, would 

 collect ivory and other produce in the certainty 

 of the demand being equal to any supply they 

 might bring to market : that thus the resources 

 of Central Africa would be gradually deve- 

 loped, new wants would be created throughout 

 her immense population, and their energies 

 taxed to supply them ; and that although for 



