Few Of Them Weigh More Than Eighty Or One Hundred
Pounds, And Upon An Average A Bar Of European Merchandise May Be
Reckoned As The Price Of A Pound Of Ivory.
I have now, I trust, in this and the preceding chapters explained
with sufficient minuteness the nature and extent
Of the commercial
connection which at present prevails, and has long subsisted,
between the negro natives of those parts of Africa which I visited
and the nations of Europe; and it appears that slaves, gold, and
ivory, together with the few articles enumerated in the beginning of
my work - viz., bees' wax and honey, hides, gums, and dye-woods -
constitute the whole catalogue of exportable commodities. Other
productions, however, have been incidentally noticed as the growth
of Africa, such as grain of different kinds, tobacco, indigo,
cotton-wool and perhaps a few others; but of all these (which can
only be obtained by cultivation and labour) the natives raise
sufficient only for their own immediate expenditure; nor, under the
present system of their laws, manners, trade, and government, can
anything further be expected from them. It cannot, however, admit
of a doubt that all the rich and valuable productions both of the
East and West Indies might easily be naturalised and brought to the
utmost perfection in the tropical parts of this immense continent.
Nothing is wanting to this end but example to enlighten the minds of
the natives, and instruction to enable them to direct their industry
to proper objects.
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