TRAVELS IN AFRICA* 
into something higher — teach him an art or a 
trade, in the exercise of which he finds comfort 
necessary to himself, and comfort flowing from 
such an exercise to others ; place him in this 
situation, and without revolting against the 
authority of his chief, he will still feel that he is 
not singled out to remain the unpitied and the 
worthless slave. That there are powers of mind in 
the African, it were quite idle to dispute; that the 
productions of the country are capable of being 
beneficially employed, must, I think, be equally 
incontestible to any one who has carefully pe- 
rused the preceding pages ; and to act with 
honesty we should not allow both or either to 
lie for ever dormant. Common charity, much less 
common interest, forbids so unworthy a course, 
and, in truth, I cannot have the slightest suspicion 
that it ever was contemplated. 
Upon this important branch of my subject I 
might descant to a very considerable extent, but 
that, fortunately, its magnitude is so thoroughly 
felt as to spare me the labour on this occasion : 
let me however look at the advantages of this 
increased commerce in any point of view, with 
all the difiiculties which rather appear, than really 
do exist to impede it, I am fully convinced that 
to it Africa will be at last mainly indebted for 
any social and political enjoyments to which she 
may attain. s 
