THE SLAVE QUESTION. 
423 
and the enforcement of the treaties already entered 
into for the suppression of the Slave Trade in the river. 
A principal featui’e in this plan, is the proposition 
to establish an African Force, the officers of which 
should be natives, holding commissions, with local 
rank, and the sons of native chiefs should be persuaded 
to enter our army and navy, with a view of educating 
them for the service. This would be offering an in- 
ducement to advance in civilization, which they never 
before have had ; and such a boon should only be 
limited by their capability. As it is very clear from 
all the attempts that have been made, that white men 
cannot serve in that country without great sacrifice 
Annual ratio of mortality from disease among seamen on different 
stations, viz, : — 
South America 7*7 per 1000 per annum of men employed. 
Mediterranean 9*3 „ 
Home station 9*8 ,, 
East Indies 16*1 „ 
West Indies 18*1 „ 
Coast of Africa 58*4 „ 
(Vide Dr. Bryson^s Report on the Climate and Principal Diseases of 
the African Station^ page 178.) Thus putting to one side altogether 
the known injury to liealth, and shortening of life, which results in 
nearly every case from service on the African coast, we find the sta- 
tistical return of mortality on that station to be more than seven 
times as great as on the South American Coast, six times as great as 
the Mediterranean or home stations, four times as great as the East 
Indies and China, and three times as great as that of the sickly West 
Indies. 
If we extend this to the Niger Expeditions, we shall find the first 
expedition, under Lander, to have lost 808*5 per annum ; the second 
