Another source of depopulation is, that for every offence man is lost to the community; too commonly his whole. family also. Whoever carries on trade finds abundance of Europeans ready to advance any goods he may want, and to take off his Slaves. The only question is, how he shall get Slaves. It is obvious that his interest is to encrease the commission of crimes, even if he do not seek to obtain Slaves by committing the deepest crimes himself. In a short time the creditor becomes pressing for a part of his due, but the trader is indolent, or the path is stopped (meaning that access to the interior from which Slaves are obtained is prevented) or he has wasted his money. A domestic Slave, a dependant, or a near relation has been given on first receiving the loan, under the name of pawn, but being unredeemed in due time is sold. If no unprotected persons can be kidnapped, nor a sufficient number caught by means similar to those mentioned in the note below, the relations and domestics of the debtor must be seized, and frequently all the people of a town may be sent on board a Slave fhip for one man's debt; but the debtor himself is seldom or never meddled with.

* I was one day detained very long at P

, and on enquiring the reason, an old man was pointed out, who had sat long with me in C's house, concerning whom the Chiefs were then talking a Palaver. His name was He is said to have made a practice through life of seeking out a great number of the finest women in the country for his wives, and by their means entrapping the men in his neighbourhood, especially young ones whom he hires from various parts of the country as Grumettas. He had now overstepped the limits of African law with regard to some young men of powerful families whom he had sold. Or rather, I believe, these powerful families could not suffer so infamous and well known a practice, though consistent with the letter of the law, to injure their own relations. I did not learn the result, but from his influence with C there is no doubt he escaped punishment, though he would be obliged to surrender his prey.

"A belief in Witchcraft, and trials by Red-water, are carried here to a greater extent than even in the adjacent countries. No one is ignorant that the Natives believe every death to be occasioned by magical influence, under whatever form of sickness or accident the cause of death may appear to the unilluminated eyes of an Eupean. The Bulloms carry this belief practically to such an extent as often to break every tie of natural affection. Those who have been most under the influence of such superstitious fears, and have therefore subjected the greatest numbers to the Red-rater Ordeal, are generally accused in their turn, and often by one of their own family. Of this I heard numerous instances, especially in DT's family. K found even so intelligent a man as T― himself one day about to give red-water to his father's sister. With much difficulty he and another trader prevailed on him to desist. And the abhorrence of the offence (viz. witchcraft) is such that death itself is almost to be preferred to living under the impu tation of such a crime. None seem to prejudge and detest the offender more than those of his own household. Before I left P-P, H-(a Chief) sent me a message requesting me, should I succeed in re-establishing peace, to use my utmost efforts to abolish the red-water. He had himself seen King Skill six persons in one morning with it; and an equal number out of the families of the victims were immediately sold. A very respectable man being accused, neither money nor solicitation could save him from death by the red-water; and his whole family consisting of eight persons was immedi ately sold. Cassured me, that in one way or other, in ordinary times, two-thirds of those who were sent off that part of the Coast were sold for witchcraft."

E

It seems important to remark in this place, that the hope of establishing an extensive and increasing trade with Africa, a trade which may compensate to this country much of that injury which our commerce has sustained from the hostile edicts of the French government, is far from being visionary. The exports from this country to the island of St. Domingo during the last year are supposed to have amounted to no less a sum than £1,200,000. Now the total value of the merchandize exported from this country in any one year, for the purpose of carrying on the African Slave Trade, even according to the statements of the advocates of that trade, never exceeded this sum, and generally fell below it. The island of St. Domingo therefore, containing a population of less than half a million, already consumes more of our merchandize, than was consumed, during the continuance of the Slave Trade, by the whole of Western Africa, containing a population of at least one hundred times that number. May it not hence be fairly presumed, that if some pains are taken to excite, and properly to direct, the industry of Africa, a trade may soon be created with that country, which shall call for a quantity of our manufactures not only equal, but greatly superior, to the utmost demands of the Slave Trade. If a community of 4 or 500,000 negroes in St. Domingo, recently emancipated from the yoke of slavery, and still distracted by internal commotions, can furnish a valuable return for so large an amount of merchandize as is now sent thither, can it be believed, when we consider the immense capabilities of Africa, that the fifty millions of negroes, to whom we now may have access from its

F

Western shore, will not, in a short time, be able to take off our hands a much larger amount than this? This view of the subject, it is hoped, will have its due weight on the minds of those who have an interest in the extension of our trade and manufactures.

F

THE ARABIC language has been extended, by means of the Mahommedans, over a large part of the Western Coast of Africa. The knowledge of this language, by British subjects resident on the coast, would greatly tend to facilitate our intercourse with the interior, while it would afford a ready means of spreading useful knowledge throughout Africa. Tracts printed in Arabic would be eagerly read there, and might be dispersed to the farthest extremity of the Continent. It is therefore highly important that the Institution should encourage the cultivation of Arabic literature at Sierra Leone. The salary of a teacher of Arabic will not be a great burden upon the funds of the Society, as a native, competently qualified for that office, may be obtained at a moderate rate. The business of the teacher will be to instruct such Europeans and others, in the Arabic tongue, as may be placed under his tuition by persons receiving authority for that purpose from the Directors; and the diligence of the scholars may be quickened by periodical examinations, at which extaordinary proficiency may be distinguished by honorary rewards.

The Susoo language is spoken very generally on the coast for about one hundred and fifty miles to the Northward of Sierra Leone. It is also understood by a great part of the Foulah and Mandingo nations, and is the vernacular tongue of the country of Jalonkadoo, a large

kingdom, in the mountains of which the Niger is represented as taking its rise. It would not therefore be too large a calculation to suppose, that it is spoken over a space of eight hundred or a thousand miles square; a space considerably larger than Great Britain. This language, which is remarkably simple and easy of acquisition, has been reduced to writing by the zeal of Mr. Brunton, who resided for some time as a missionary among the Susoos, and who was assisted in his task by some Susoo youths who had been brought over to England for education, and have since returned to Africa. The fruit of Mr. Brunton's labours is a Susoo Grammar and Vocabulary, and several Susoo Tracts, all of which have been printed.

The considerations which have been suggested as a ground for the appointment of an Arabic teacher at Sierra Leone, apply with equal force to the case of the Susoo language. A competent teacher of the Susoo may be engaged on the spot for a moderate salary; and the same means of exciting and rewarding the diligence of the students of Susoo, may be pursued, as has been proposed in the case of the Arabic students.

Colonists or natives duly instructed in these languages, and in English, might be employed as school-masters in the native towns; and knowledge and improvement be thus rapidly extended.