Extenaioii of Coiiiiiierce in Africa. 35 



the British Avest African colony, in Egypt, in Natal, on the shores of 

 Lake Victoria Nyanza, and in parts of the Kongo basin, it is esti- 

 mated that the native population is nearly as dense as in India ; 

 but the climatic conditions are so unfavorable that it is not prob- 

 able that any attempt will be made to advance in these regions 

 for a more serious purpose than to maintain a foothold for the 

 futvire. The more attractive districts for the white man are 

 thought to be much less populous, and are not scourged with 

 such an unhealthy climate. 



Even now the nations of Europe are planning to enter these 

 great unknown fields. There is an expedition on the western 

 coast, under the explorer Cameron, investigating the conditions 

 for trade ; and the rumors of the organization of wealthy com- 

 l^anies to work in the several " spheres of influence " but impress 

 upon us the fact that the Old World is moving to lay bare the 

 resources of the great continent, and we may hope with an 

 energy that will overcome all obstacles, open new fields to 

 mankind, and relieve the nations of the horrors of human traffic 

 in which they have been too long encouraged. But it would be 

 vain to hope there will be no bloodshed, for where man has great 

 rival interests history teaches us they are settled by the sword ; 

 and we can hardly believe the peaceful methods of arbitration 

 will have gained such sway as to rob history in her predictions 

 as to the regeneration of " darkest Africa." 



On the western hemisphere also there have been events of 

 most interesting import, in that they foreshadow a closer union 

 of the people of the two continents. Unlike Africa, in that this 

 hemisphere has been under the control of the more intelligent 

 races of men for several generations, so that discovery and the 

 cruelties attending the estal)lishment of supremacy are virtually 

 questions of the past, the interests involved are on a different 

 plane, though not on a higher moral sphere, as we can conceive no 

 greater Christian duty than the regeneration of the uncivilized, 

 but a sphere affecting the relations of established communities 

 that for generations have been wielding an influence in the 

 world's history on principles recognized to be the product of 

 civilization. The metes and bounds of the states are well de- 

 fined, with few exce23tions, and the ambition for territorial accre- 

 tion has been so greatly subdued by the misfortunes of their 

 earlier histories, that the time seems to be propitious for aclvanc- 



