112 National Qeograjpliic Magazine. 



where fire-arms have been substituted for the bow and spear ; 

 next the Mohammedan ; and last of all, on the shores of the 

 Mediterranean, the civilization of the French and English. 



It is a curious fact that many tribes that had made considerable 

 advance in manufacturing iron and copper, have for some time 

 ceased manufacturing ; that others have retrograded, and have 

 lost some of the arts they formerly possessed. This decline 

 apparently took place after the Mohammedans had conquered 

 North Africa, and sent their traders among the Negro tribes, 

 who sold the few articles the Negro needed cheaper than they 

 could manufacture them, and therefore compelled them to give 

 up their own manufactures. Such was the effect of free trade on 

 interior Africa. The Mohammedans also manufacture less than 

 formerly, depending more and more upon European manufactures. 

 The enterprise of the white race defies native competition, and 

 stifles attempts at native manufactures : there is therefore among 

 the natives a great falling-oif in the progress of outward culture, 

 and the last traces of home industries are rapidly disappearing. 



Slave-Trade. 



One of the depai'tments of this society is the geography of life. 

 At the head of all life stands man : it is therefore within our 

 province to investigate those questions which more intimately 

 concern and influence his welfare. 



Slavery and the slave-trade have, within the last two hundred 

 years, affected African life more than all other influences com- 

 bined ; and this trade, with all its sinister effects, instead of 

 diminishing, is ever increasing. It has had a marked effect not 

 only on the personal and tribal characters of the inhabitants, but 

 on their social organization, and on the whole industrial and 

 economic life of the country. It has not only utterly destroyed 

 many tribes, but it has made the condition of the other tribes 

 one of restless anarchy and insecurity. It has been the great 

 curse of Africa, and for its existence the nations of Europe have 

 been, and are, largely responsible. The temper and disposition of 

 the Negro make him a most useful slave. He can endure con- 

 tinuous hard labor, live on little, has a cheerful disposition, and 

 rarely rises against his master. 



There are two kinds of slavery, — home and foreign. The first 

 has always prevailed in Africa. Prisoners taken in war are 



