These developments gave encouragement to British humanitarians to pursue the destruction of slavery in Africa itself. Ironically, the anti-slavery legislation did little to diminish the trans-Atlantic trade owing to the opening up of sugar plantations in Brazil and Cuba; and, of course, illegal shipments to N. America and the French W. Indies also fed the system. The British anti-slavery lobby, fresh from its success in helping to abolish the trade as far as Britain was concerned, decided therefore to attack the system at its source. An incentive had to be found, however, for the African suppliers to give up an ancient source of revenue. Africans were to be introduced to the advantages of legitimate commerce through serving the growing needs of the emergent industrial system in England. Older trading commodities such as gold, spices, ivory and teak were to give way to palm kernels and groundnuts. Alas these expectations could not be fulfilled at this early stage, principally owing to the terrible toll of life exacted by tropical diseases on Europeans--missionaries and would-be merchants alike--in the course of the many expeditions along the Niger River in the first half of the 19th c. [Not until the early 1850s did the use of quinine serve as an effective therapeutic agent to treat the dreaded malaria]. Thus the expected integration of the African economy with Europe's industrial needs did not occur until the last quarter of the century, by which time slavery had been outlawed in the West and the intentions of Westerners and their governments were no longer so benign.
The following document is a typical example of the several projects combining humanitarian and commercial aims in the furtherance of 'Christianity and Civilization.' Little wonder that the British Colonial Office paid scant heed to such exaggerated notions of well meaning but utterly unrealistic enthusiasts.
. . . . The Committee think that it may be of use to enumerate in this place, for the information of the Subscribers, what other articles [besides raw cotton] there are which Africa may be expected to furnish as a return to the British merchant for the goods he may send thither.
The first they will specify is Gold. This precious metal is found in many parts of Africa, sometimes in small lumps, in a pure state; but for the most part it is procured by merely washing, with care, the sand taken from the bed of the river. The quantity obtained in this way, indeed, will barely pay the labor required to free it from the sand. It nevertheless proves the existence of gold mines in the country, which, it is presumed, may be found and opened, should the advancing civilization of Africa admit of that free intercourse, which would give an opportunity to European mineralogists of exploring this source of wealth.
Ivory has hitherto formed, next to slaves, the largest branch of African commerce, and its quantity will of course not be lessened by the new circumstances in which Africa is placed.
Bees Wax may be obtained in every part of Africa; and in some places, particularly the Rivers Gambia and Gabon, it forms a considerable part of the present exports. It might of course be greatly increased by encouraging the rearing of Bees.
Dye-Woods, of various kinds . . . are now exported . . from Africa. Requiring no previous cultivation, but only to be cut down in order to be brought to market . . . Without doubt, however, when the intercourse with the interior of Africa shall become more open and secure not only may the trade in the Dye-Woods already specified be increased, but other valuable Dye-Woods will probably be discovered.
Many kinds of Timber are likewise produced in Africa, which are supposed to be well adapted for the use of Cabinet Makers, Inlayers, and even of Shipwrights. . . .
Potash might also be procured from Africa: the clearing of the forests would of course supply materials for the manufacture of this useful article.
Gum Senegal and Gum Copal are now imported into this country from Africa, in a quantity nearly equal to the demand. Besides these, there are many other gums in Africa, which, if properly examined, might prove useful both to our manufacturers and chemists . . .
Palm Oil, which is useful in the manufacture of soap, may be obtained in considerable quantities.
Indigo grows wild in almost every part of the African Coast, and might therefore easily be brought into cultivation. Almost all the Indigo which is now consumed in Europe, is imported from the East Indies, under the disadvantage of a voyage more than thrice as long as that from Africa. Besides the Indigo, there is another plant which the natives use as a blue dye, which appears to impart a more indelible color, and which, should it stand the test of experiment, might also be cultivated.
Rice forms the principal food of the Africans, and might doubtless become an article of export, for the supply of the West Indies and Europe.
Several varieties of the Coffee, one of a kind not inferior, it is supposed, to the Mocha, are found growing wild in the mountains of Sierra Leone. The cultivation of this article has been begun at that Colony, and promises to succeed. It may thence be extended to every part of the continent.
Sugar Cane of an excellent quality grows, with hardly any culture,in many parts of Africa. . . .its existence, and luxuriant growth, serve to show what are the capabilities of that country.
Malaguetta Pepper, an article in considerable demand, grows wild in great abundance on the windward coast.
A variety of other Spiceries, including the Cayenne, Ginger . . . species of Nutmeg, and Cinnamon, are found in Africa, and might be cultivated with advantage. Castor Oil, Musk,and various other drugs might also be brought thence, together with the Indian Arrow Root, Tapioca and Sago.
Tobacco is cultivated on a small scale, in various parts of Africa, and might, if it were desirable, be cultivated still more extensively.
A few Hides are now imported from the River Gambia: the number will doubtless increase, as cattle can be more securely reared.
Sponge may also be procured thence.
But besides the articles above enumerated, as already existing in Africa, there are others of a very valuable kind, such as Opium, which might be transported thither. The Cochineal and the Silk Worm might also be reared there. In short, it may be said that there are no articles, produced between the tropics, which may not be naturalized in that part of Western Africa, which has hitherto been the theater of the Slave Trade . . .
[Ref.: Second Report of the Committee of the African Institution: London, 1808]
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