FUTURE OF THE EARTH. 387 



parallel 20° South, already belongs in part, and will 

 entirely belong to settlers of the Anglo-Saxon race. 

 It resembles Australia, not only in its position with 

 respect to the Equator, but also in its natural produc- 

 tions. It is a land of wool and mines, without great 

 navigable rivers, interspersed with sandy deserts, and 

 enjoying a wholesome though sultry air. Whatever may 

 be the future of Australia, will also be the future of 

 Southern Africa. 



Between these two lines intervenes a region in- 

 habited for the most part by pagan savages, thinly 

 scattered over swamp and forest. This concealed con- 

 tinent, this unknown world, will, at some far off day, 

 if my surmises prove correct, be invaded by three 

 civilizing streams ; by the British negroes from the 

 coasts ; by the Mahometan negroes in tobe and turban 

 from the great empires of the Niger region ; and by 

 the farmers and graziers and miners of South Africa. 



When, therefore, we speculate on the future of 

 Africa, we can do no more than bring certain regions 

 of that continent within the scope of two general 

 questions ; the future of our colonies, and the future 

 of the East ; and these lead us up to a greater ques- 

 tion still, the future of the European race. 



Upon this subject I shall offer a few remarks ; and 

 it is obvious that in order to form some conception of 

 the future, it is necessary to understand the present 

 and the past. I shall therefore endeavour to ascer- 

 tain what we have been and what we are. The 

 monograph of Africa is ended. I shall make my 

 sketch of history complete, adding new features, 

 passing quickly over the parts that have been already 

 drawn. I shall search out the origin of man, deter- 

 mine his actual condition, speculate upon his future 



