8 INTRODUCTION. 



far the ablest work on the West Coast that has yet appeared, 

 is worth a host. He declares that the efforts of the English 

 Government are worthy of all praise. Had it not been for 

 the cruisers, and especially those of England, Africa would 

 still have been inaccessible to missionary labour ; " and it is 

 devoutly to be hoped," he adds, " that these noble and dis- 

 interested measures may not be relaxed until the foul demon 

 be driven away from the earth." The slave-trade is the 

 greatest obstacle in existence to civilization and commercial 

 progress; and as the English are the most philanthropic 

 people in the world, and will probably always have the 

 largest commercial stake in the African continent, the policy 

 for its suppression in every possible way shows thorough 

 wisdom and foresight. 



When, in pursuit of the same object, the East Coast was 

 afterwards reached, it was found sealed up. Although praise- 

 worthy efforts had been made by Her Majesty's cruisers, 

 yet in consequence of foreigners being debarred from 

 entering the country, neither traders nor missionaries had 

 established themselves. The trade was still only in 'a 

 little ivory, gold-dust, and slaves, just as it was on the West 

 Coast, before Lord Palmerston's policy came into operation 

 there. It was, however, subsequently discovered that the 

 Portuguese Government professed itself willing, nay anxious, 

 to let the country be opened to the influences of civilization 

 and lawful commerce — indeed it could scarcely be otherwise, 

 seeing that not a grain of benefit ever accrued to Portugal by 

 shutting it up ; — and the Zambesi, a large river, promised 

 to be a fine inlet to the highlands and interior generally; 

 the natives were agricultural, and all fond of trading ; the 

 soil was fertile — indigo, cotton, tobacco, sugar-cane, and other 

 articles of value, were already either cultivated or growing 



