in.] SOUTH AFRICAN TRIBES. J 05 



The native medical practice, as might be expected, is 

 very defective. They have some good remedies, especially 

 for fever. Inoculation and cupping are known to them. 

 Medicines are regarded as charms. Surgery is at a low ebb 

 among them. In midwifery they are particularly unskilful. 

 Women are the sole practitioners in such cases. Dr Living- 

 stone conferred great benefits both in medicine and surgery 

 on multitudes during his residence in Africa. 



To establish these points is of great con- 



lhe g e ™ u s sequence to Africa, and the world, but espe- 



native South cially to our own country. The truth is, the 



Africans for interior Africans are shrewdly alive to the im- 



commerce ; as • t ' 



well as the fit- portance of trade. This is especially shewn 



ness of their in the case f t j le Makololo. The Bechuanas 



soil and its pro- . 



ductions for and Basutos love agriculture; while the Ba- 



commercial tonga are well-skilled in it. Other tribes give 

 evidences of being good handicraftsmen. More- 

 over, they have not only the desire and ability to become 

 traders in a lawful traffic, but also they are in the position of 

 the best of customers, viz. almost unlimited wants as to arts 

 and manufactures, &c. as well as boundless resources in raw 

 material to give in exchange. 



Various parts of this little book give ample evidence of 

 the fitness of their soil and of its productions for commercial 

 purposes. All the staple food for man and beast can be 

 produced in lavish profusion ; while valuable minerals, such 

 as coal, iron and gold, are likewise procurable. 



What they want is direct intercourse and trade with 

 Europeans, in order to destroy the unlawful traffic of the 

 Mambari and native Portuguese. This being one great 

 object of the present expedition, our manufacturers and 

 traders are as much interested in its successful issue, as men 

 of science, philanthropists, and Christian Churches. 



