The Prospective Civilization of Africa [pp. 171-191]

THE PRINCE T0N RE VIR EW.
middle ages sprang mainly from the trading spirit; in modern
times Holland, Portugal, and England have, actuated by the
same motive, taken the lead in civilizing movements. Africa
seems to have just now reached the point at which it is likely to
present a great attraction to traders. The noble efforts of explorers have changed it from a terra incognita into one whose
principal geographical features are almost as well known as
those of Europe. Vast tracts of a virgin soil, extraordinarily
productive, situated at a high elevation, and therefore not intensely hot, well wooded and well watered, are laid open to
commerce, which, a generation back, were blanks upon the map,
and had been unvisited by any stranger from the outer world
since the time of the Cwsars. The interior of Africa has become accessible by two or three distinct routes, and the merchant seems invited to step in, if it be but to utilize the discoveries of the geographer. Africa produces gold, silver, iron,
ivory in enormous abundance, natron, hard woods of various
kinds, rhinoceros' horns, excellent wax and gums, salt, dates,
tamarinds, figs, cocoanuts, ground-nuts, manioc, the fruits of the
baobab and dour palm trees, yams, bananas, capers, senna, palmoil, cloves, hides, leather, and ostrich-feathers. It grows, under
an execrable system of cultivation, abundant wheat, barley, rice,
maize, durra, millet, sesame, sugar, and coffee, besides yielding
in places considerable amounts of cotton, tobacco, and indigo.
The forests of the interior are but very partially explored, and
may be expected to contain a variety of vegetable products
suitable for dyes and medicaments, the exact qualities and
values of which have yet to be determined. Mineral treasures
of various kinds may also confidently be anticipated. Iron and
copper are abundant and near the surface. Rich veins of
malachite have been proved to exist in Benguela, at a distance
of not more than I40 miles from the shore; and tho under the
circumstances of the present time the expense of conveying the
ore to the coast has been found to exceed the value of the
commodity obtained, and the mines have consequently ceased
to be worked, yet, as roads come to be carried from the coast
into the interior, it can hardly be doubted that the enterprise
will be renewed and will obtain the success which it merits.
The emerald region of Mount Zabasa on the shore of the Red
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