COMMERCE AND CHRISTIANITY. 21 



nas 1 made the fashionable tongue, and that was one of 

 the languages into which Mr Moffat had translated the 

 Scriptures 2 . Sebituane also discovered Lake Ngami 

 some time previous to my explorations in that part. In 

 going back to that country my object is to open up traffic 

 along the banks of the Zambesi, and also to preach the 

 Gospel. The natives of Central Africa are very desirous 

 of trading, but their only traffic is at present in slaves, 

 of which the poorer people have an unmitigated horror : 

 it is therefore most desirable to encourage the former 

 principle, and thus open a way for the consumption of 

 free productions, and the introduction of Christianity 

 and commerce. By encouraging the native propensity 

 for trade, the advantages that might be derived in a 

 commercial point of view are incalculable ; nor should 

 we lose sight of the inestimable blessings it is in our 

 power to bestow upon the unenlightened African, by 

 giving him the light of Christianity. Those two pioneers 

 of civilization — Christianity and commerce — should ever 

 be inseparable ; and Englishmen should be warned by the 

 fruits of neglecting that principle as exemplified in the re- 

 sult of the management of Indian affairs. By trading with 

 Africa, also, we should at length be independent of slave- 

 labour, and thus discountenance practices so obnoxious to 

 every Englishman. 



Though the natives are not absolutely anxious to re- 



1 For an account of these people, see Appendix, pp. 86, 89. 



2 For an account of this translation, see Appendix, p. 122. 



3 For an account of this lake, see Appendix, p. 66. 



10—2 



