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

THE PROSPECTIVE CIVILIZA TION OF AFRICA
her of losses, privations, pains, persecutions, miseries, animated
solely by devotion to their Master's service, and by a longing to
extend the benefits of civilization and true religion to their fellow-men. "The preaching of the Gospel," it has been observed
by a recent French writer, "is capable of becoming the most
active principle in the regeneration of the African nations.
History shows that Christianity possesses a power peculiar to
itself for drawing uncultivated races out of savagery and enabling them to mount rapidly'the first stages of civilization."
There is every reason to believe that, in the work of regenerating Africa, a leading part will be played by missionary societies,
which will supply a succession of devoted and energetic men,
banded together in communities and settled in stations, which
will become centres of instruction, civilization, and enlightenment to the wild tribes dwelling around them.
In conclusion, we propose to give a brief sketch of what is
actually done, and doing, towards the progress of civilization in
Africa, and to point out her chief present needs.
In the north and the north-west, France is makingconsiderable
efforts. Besides establishing a protectorate over Tunis after a
fashion that is not perhaps greatly to be commended, she is
pushing her influence into the Desert from Algeria, and largely
advancing it from her settlements upon the Senegal and Gambia into the region watered by the upper affluents of the Niger.
An expedition under Captain Galliani has mapped the country
for a thousand miles between Senegambia and Timbuctoo. A
treaty has been made between France and the King of Segoo
securing to French subjects the exclusive right to trade and
navigation on the Upper Niger as far as the great emporium.
France may be said now to dominate all North-western Africa
between the tenth and the thirty-seventh parallels. She has
recently sent an expedition under Lieutenant Sewalle to explore
the Benuwe, or great eastern affluent of the Niger, but with
what success we have not heard at present.
A German, Dr. Linz, has recently (I88o) travelled from Tangiers to Timbuctoo by way of Morocco. He crossed the Atlas
and anti-Atlas ranges, found the Sahara traversed by many high
rocky chains, saw no signs of any depression of the desert, thus
pretty well disposing of the idea that it might be possible to
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