THE SLAVE QUESTION. 
429 
send a message to tlie King, lest he should suspect 
him of intriguing with the white men. 
Since that time Mr. Beecroft has made another visit 
to Rabbah, and found it in ruins. The coalition which 
Dr. McWilliam* heard was meditated had been suc- 
cessfully planned and executed. The branch of the 
Filatah bandits which had their stronghold at Rabbah 
has been humbled. But the snake was only “scotched,” 
and probably ere this they have, with the assistance 
of their lawless compatriots at Sakatuh, taken fearful 
vengeance on the less warlike Nufi people, their 
depopulating “razzias” may be carried on to a greater 
extent than ever, and they may even have marched to 
conquest of Iddah, as they have long threatened. 
The plan for a colony which we have sketched 
may perhaps give alarm to some of our economists; 
but if it shoidd be decided, — what appears to us to be 
absolutely necessary, in order to stay the course of the 
gigantic evil — to withdraw the squadron from the 
Coast of Africa, an immense saving will be made 
annually; and if only a very small portion of this be 
devoted to the payment of salaries of the officials, there 
will be an amount of capital never before circulated in 
that part of Africa; moreover if to this we add the 
expenses of works to be undertaken by Government, — 
such as the erection of a fort, church, school-house, 
government-house, barracks, hospital, and a bazaar, — 
See page 107, vol. ii. 
