142 report — 1877. 



necessary to exercise great care, as they must be invested -with magisterial power. 

 At present the natives showed great inclination to gather for protection around any 

 settlement formed by merchants or slave-traders, who granted them immunity from 

 their warlike neighbours in order to obtain necessary supplies. If, instead of the 

 capricious rule of the slave-trader, the judicious rule of a British agent were esta- 

 blished, they would soon find thousands of natives settling round, and as their num- 

 bers increased, greater care would have to be exercised in dealing with them. It 

 was doubtful whether our Government would give their authority to such a system 

 as this ; and, if they should decline to do so, the next best thing would be to esta- 

 blish agencies under the sanction of the Sultan of Zanzibar. In proportion to the 

 work done, the excessive cost of travelling in Central Africa was more apparent 

 than real, whilst the country possessed enormous natural wealth at present almost 

 entirely undeveloped. The india-rubber trade was comparatively new. In the year 

 1875 the exports were worth £40,000, in 1876 they rose to £100,000, while this 

 year they were estimated at nearly a quarter of a million. The rise in this impor- 

 tant trade was entirely due to the enlightened efforts of his Highness Seyyid Bur- 

 ghash in suppressing the slave traffic in his dominions, the capital formerly used in 

 the slave-trade being now employed in this more legitimate commerce. Among 

 the other resources of the country were Indian corn and various other grains, the 

 export of which might form a most important food supply for the popvdation of 

 India. Considering the famines in that country, it behoved us to open up such an 

 important resource — the products of Central Africa being vastly in excess of the 

 native requirements. Apart from this great social question, it seemed that the 

 continent of Africa had been purposely kept until this time in its present condition 

 in order to supply the growing wants of the 19th and 20th centuries. He believed 

 the establishment of one or more great corporations, somewhat on the basis of the 

 Honourable East-India Company, although apparently the day for such great enter- 

 prises was past (the spirit of the age was against the granting of exclusive powers 

 to such bodies), woidd be the most efficacious means of bringing the centre of 

 Africa under the influences of trade and civilization. If from any cause the pro- 

 posed stations could not bo fixed, he would propose the opening up of a certain 

 district, which, having been thoroughly explored, missionaries, traders, &c. would 

 soon occupy, and thus form a basis for further exploration and settlement. All 

 petty jealousies must, however, be put aside, or the prestige of the white man would 

 be damaged. If the proposed stations were established they should be utilised as 

 centres for meteorological and other scientific observations. The more rapidly the 

 centre of Africa was opened up the more rapidly would the disgraceful traffic in 

 human flesh and blood be abolished. To the English this should be a work of 

 especial importance. Devon and the West country were justly proud of the 

 veterans and explorers of olden times, the Raleighs, Grenvilles, and others ; but it 

 could not be forgotten that there had been one who had sullied the British flag by 

 introducing the slave-trade, and that trade we, as Britons were therefore indi- 

 rectly responsible for. Thanks were due to the Khedive and the Sultan of Zanzibar, 

 and also to Dr. Kirk, his most able adviser, for the efforts which had been made to 

 put a stop to the traffic in the east of Africa, especially when it was remembered 

 that the Sultan of Zanzibar was acting against a strong opposition on the part of 

 members of his own family and other persons of influence with him. The syste- 

 matic exploration of Africa was a subject which now interested the whole world; 

 little Belgium, readily responding to her rider's call, had subscribed £12,000 for 

 sending out an expedition. Portugal had sent out an expedition at a cost of 

 £20,0U0, and other countries were giving attention to the matter. If we did not 

 take care Ave should have the fruits of our own efforts taken from us by more 

 enterprising neighbours. In this country, where all the finances of the Government 

 had to be submitted to the House of Commons, we could not expect the Govern- 

 ment to act so liberally as those of other nations ; but this should stimulate us as 

 individuals to greater efforts to forward the scheme for the exploration of Africa. 



