Page:The Past, Present and Future Trade of the Cape Colonies with Central Africa.pdf/26

 races—races given to agriculture rather than war—and not to conclude, as our late experience of the Zulu and other kindred tribes would rather tend to make us believe, that all Africans were so addicted. We are glad to learn on such good authority that many tribes exist in South Africa inclined to settled pursuits of agriculture, and the possibility, with their consent and concurrence, of forming certain stations in their midst that would form points in which in any attempts to push commerce through to the Zambesi there would be means of assistance and information for all who might seek such aid. That is, in effect, what the King of the Belgians is now attempting to do with such munificent spirit in a line across Central Africa; with an unstinted expenditure of money and earnest efforts, he is endeavouring to establish a chain of permanent stations from the East coast to the West, and from the Congo to Zanzibar, to act as places of refuge for travellers, whether geographers, merchants, or missionaries, and supply the means of restoring their energies when exhausted by long and toilsome explorations or travels, places of rest and of safety to all attempting to traverse the great continent of Africa. And although we have been told that it is desirable to consult large maps for political reasons—and we have got a very fairly large one here this evening—yet even this, I believe, gives no adequate idea to the mind at first of the distances which separate one point from another, or the vast spaces to be traversed over on foot for the most part. But when we talk of explorers going across Africa, it is thousands of miles we are contemplating. And as to any advance from these southern Colonies of ours up to the Zambesi river, there are spaces as large as European kingdoms to pass through that are covered with tribes of savages, not always safe to deal with, to be constantly borne in mind if we would judge rightly of the efforts required to extend commerce or civilisation among the native tribes. (Hear, hear.) I will not take up further time of this meeting in reference to the chief points which struck me as Dr. Holub proceeded. I hope he is right, and that by the encouragement of these agricultural tribes we may improve the condition of their women. I am sure there will not be any real improvement in the civilisation of these tribes until they give to women their proper place as helpmates, and not as slaves. One of the blessings which Christianity brought with it has been the elevation of womankind to the same position as men, and with equal claims under the same dispensation. (Hear, hear.) I confess I am not so sanguine as he is as to the time this revolution may take. I am old enough to remember the time when,