Page:The Past, Present and Future Trade of the Cape Colonies with Central Africa.pdf/9



(who, on rising, was received with loud applause) said: During my frequent travels I paid especial attention to the trade of the countries which I traversed. I may say that it was a part of my programme to explore the less known parts of South Africa and parts of Central Africa as far as I could penetrate. Shortly I hope to have the pleasure of bringing my small geographical researches before the Royal Geographical Society of Great Britain. The small attempts I made in zoology, &c., I brought before the public of Austria, in an Exhibition which I opened in the city of Prague. My researches in medical science I brought a few days ago before the Medical Faculty of Prague, and my little experience about the trade of these parts I take the liberty of bringing this evening before this noble Institute. But, before going into the details, allow me to give a few outlines of the nature of my lecture. I will say a few words about those countries which I have traversed. Then I will speak of the different roads which lead into the interior of Africa—both South and Central Africa, and I will then pass a few remarks on the traders, Those will be the general remarks which I shall make, and then I will draw a comparison between the past and the present trade; and I will mention the names of the tribes with whom we have been trading in former times and with whom we are trading now. I will mention the articles which have been brought in along with these tribes and which we bring in now, and the articles which we got from the natives in former times compared with what we receive now. Also the trading stations as they were established in former times and as they yet exist at the present moment. And after I give this comparison, I will draw another comparison between our trade—you will excuse the use I make of the word “our”; but I have been living seven years in South Africa, and I cannot help using it, for I feel more like a colonist—(hear, hear)—our trade and the rival trade, the trade of the Portuguese from the East and the West coast. I intend to describe their ways of trading, their routes into the interior, and the articles which they bring in and receive instead; and after which I have to confess that our trade in these parts has decreased, and then I will speak of the reasons for the collapse of our trade, and mention, as it is most necessary, how best we can multiply and increase the trade again, and with a few words about the opening up of Central Africa will close my address. I will commence by describing the parts of this interior about