104 
MISSIONARY LIFE 
CHAPTER XXX. 
CONDITION AND WANTS OF THE PEOPLE. 
It is almost impossible to conceive of a condi- 
tion more wretched, and more to be deplored, than 
that of the people of western Africa. It is in 
every way wretched, physically, intellectually, and 
morally, and still, alas! their course is steadily 
downward; and this downward tendency is greatly 
accelerated by influences emanating from men 
hailing from enlightened and professedly Christian 
nations, as we shall see in a subsequent chapter 
of this volume. 
They need an entire set of new institutions, 
social, educational, political, and religious — a com- 
plete regeneration ; and that this may be eftected 
it is essential that good and wise people go among 
them, to lay the basis of correct society, and in- 
troduce the arts and sciences. 
I would not be understood to convey the idea 
that this end should be aimed at in any other way 
than by the introduction of the gospel in their 
