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establish themselves as independent piratical societies in the Nile
Basin； the slave trade would continue； and the road through Darfur and
Kordofan would be adopted in place of the tabooed White Nile。
Should the White Nile companies be totally disbanded； the people now
engaged must return to their original agricultural pursuits in the
Soudan； and their labour would tend to an increase of the revenue； and
to the general prosperity of the country。
I have already published so much on the subject of the slave trade in
〃The Albert N'yanza；〃 that I fear to repeat what I have before so
forcibly expressed。 I have never changed my original opinions on this
question； and I can only refer the public to page 313； vol。 ii。； of that
work； whence I take the following extract：〃Stop the White Nile trade；
prohibit the departure of any vessels from Khartoum to the south； and
let the Egyptian government grant a concession to a company for the
White Nile； subject to certain conditions； and to a special supervision
。 。 。 。
。 。 。 〃Should the slave trade be suppressed； there will be a； good
opening for the ivory trade； the conflicting trading parties being
withdrawn； and the interest of the trade exhibited by a single company；
the natives would no longer be able to barter ivory for cattle； thus
they would be forced to accept other goods in exchange。 The
newly…discovered Albert Lake opens the centre of Africa to navigation。
Steamers ascend from Khartoum to Gondokoro in lat。 4 degrees 55'。 Seven
days' march south of that station the navigable portion of the Nile is
reached； whence vessels can ascend direct to the Albert Lake； thus an
enormous extent of country is opened to navigation； and Manchester goods
and various other articles would find a ready market in exchange for
ivory at a prodigious profit； as in those newly…discovered regions ivory
has a merely nominal value。
〃Beyond this commencement of honest trade I cannot offer a suggestion；
as no produce of the country except ivory could afford the expense of
transport to Europe。 （The proposed railway from Cairo to
Khartoum will overcome this obstacle。）
〃If Africa is to be civilized； it must be effected by commerce； which；
once established； will open the way for missionary labour； but all ideas
of commerce； improvement； and the advancement of the African race that
philanthropy can suggest； must be discarded until the traffic in slaves
shall have ceased to exist。
〃Should the slave trade be suppressed； a field would be opened； the
extent of which I will not attempt to suggest； as the future would
depend upon the good government of countries now devoted to savage
anarchy and confusion。〃 。 。 。 。
〃Difficult and almost impossible is the task before the missionary。 The
Austrian mission has failed； and their stations have been forsaken；
their pious labour was hopeless； and the devoted priests died upon their
barren field。〃
By a reference to that work also〃The Albert N'yanza〃it will be seen
that in the present expedition I carried out the plans that I had
proposed at the termination of my first journey。
I have no doubt that missionaries will take advantage of the chance that
has resulted from the suppression of the slave trade and the
establishment of a government。 At the same time； should they attempt a
settlement in the neighbourhood of Gondokoro； they must be prepared with
an inexhaustible stock of patience when dealing with the Baris。
The Madi and Shooli tribes would be found tractable and more capable of
religious instruction。 It is my opinion that the time has not yet
arrived for missionary enterprise in those countries； but at the same
time a sensible man might do good service by living among the natives；
and proving to their material minds that persons do exist whose
happiness consists in doing good to others。 The personal qualifications
and outfit for a single man who would thus settle among the natives
should be various。 If he wished to secure their attention and
admiration； he should excel as a rifle shot and sportsman。 If musical；
he should play ‘ the Highland bagpipes。 He should be clever as a
conjurer； and be well provided with conjuring tricks； together with a
magic lantern； magnetic battery； dissolving views； photographic
apparatus； coloured pictorial illustrations； &c。； &c。 He should be a
good surgeon and general doctor； &c。； and be well supplied with drugs；
remembering that natives have a profound admiration for medical skill。
A man who in full Highland dress could at any time collect an audience
by playing a lively air with the bagpipes； would be regarded with great
veneration by the natives； and would be listened to when an archbishop
by his side would be totally disregarded。 He should set all psalms to
lively tunes； and the natives would learn to sing them immediately。
Devotional exercises should be chiefly musical。
In this manner a man would become a general favourite； and if he had a
never…failing supply of beads； copper rods； brass rings for arms；
fingers； and ears； gaudy cotton handkerchiefs； red or blue blankets；
zinc mirrors； red cotton shirts； &c。； to give to his parishioners； and
expected nothing in return； he would be considered a great man； whose
opinion would carry a considerable weight； provided that he only spoke
of subjects which he thoroughly understood。
A knowledge of agriculture； with a good stock of seeds of useful
vegetables and cereals； iron hoes； carpenter's and blacksmith's tools；
and the power of instructing others in their use； together with a
plentiful supply of very small axes； would be an immense recommendation
to a lay missionary who should determine to devote some years of his
life to the improvement of the natives。
In the magnificent equatorial portions of Africa there is a great field
for British enterprise； and much might be accomplished by lay
missionaries； who would at the commencement avoid theological teaching；
until by other means they should have gained an ascendency over the
minds of the natives。 By slow degrees confidence might be established；
and much may be effected by good example。 。 。 。
The geography of Central Africa； that has made great strides within the
last few years； will now be rapidly extended。 The fact of an established
government under the direction of my able successor； Colonel Gordon；
R。E。； is sufficient to assure the most sceptical that the future will be
rich in geographical discoveries。
It is hoped that the steamer which I carried up to Gondokoro will be
transported to the Albert N'yanza early in the year 1875。 It is
impossible to foretell the result of steam communication on the great
inland sea M'wootan N'zige。
I do not love to dwell upon geographical theories； as I believe in
nothing but actual observation； but I cannot quite disbelieve my native
informants； who assured me that they had travelled to Ujiji by canoe
from Chibero on the Albert N'yanza。
By the latest intelligence from Lieutenant Cameron； dated Ujiji； 28th
February； 1874； the mean of many observations for altitude of the
Tanganyika Lake taken with mercurial barometer； aneroids； and boiling
water thermometers； gives 2；573 feet