Baltimore commercial journal, and Lyford's price-current. [volume] (Baltimore, Md) 1840-1849, 1847-01-30

some few of the poorer tribes adjacent to Abyssina
and if the tedious and perious land journey can BE-
thus braved with prcfit TO the native pedlar, what
important results might not be anticipated from well
directed efforts, by such navigable access would
appear to be promised by the river Gochob? The
throwing into the very heart Of the country now pill
laged for slaves a cheap and ample supply OF the
goods most coveted must have the effect OF exclud
ing the Mahommedan rover who has so long preyed
upon the sincws of the people; and this foundation,
iudciousIy built upon by the encouragement OF cult
walton in cotton and other indigenous produce, could
fail to upon the timid barter of rude people
the superstructure of a vast commerce.
Al period when the attention OF the majority OF
the civilized world, and of every we'll wisher 10 the
more seQuestered members of the great family OF
mankind is so cncrgrtcally directed toward the re-
moval of the mpenetrable veil that hangs before the
interior and fosters its dark folds the most fragrant
existing sin against nature and humanity, 1t could
| not fail TO prove cminenly honorable 10 those who,
by well directed enterprise, should successfully
overcome the obstacles hitherto presented by the
distance the climate and the barbariiy Of the CONT
nent of Africa. But lasting fame, and The admira-
ton OF alter ages not the only rewards extended
by the project rich mercantile harvest is assur-
eddy in store for those who shall unlock the portals
of the Eastern coast and shall spread navigation upon
| waters that have heretofore been barren.
| Although peoped by hundred and fifty mil.
| lions of souls, The present exports of Africa do moi
equal in value those of Cuba, with only twelve hun
dred thousand inhabitants. This limited commerce
aud the nature of the commercial system, have long
been, and still are, among the chief causes OF her
| misery and thraldom. Few il any, of the cCmmo-
dtes bartered with other nations are the production
of capital labor, industry; and in the minds of the
whole population, the IDEAS of prosperity and OF q
! slave trade therefore inseparable. But il al
that is coveted could be placed within honest reach
| in exchange for the produce Of the SOIL the hand.
which should cultivate il will never afterward be
| sold
| Legitimate commerce" writes Sir POWELL Bux-
| ton, ''woud put down the slave trade, by demon,
>rating the superior value Of man laborcr the
soil, 10 object Of merchandise. If con-
Quoted on wise aud equitable principles il might be
the precursor, rather the attendant, Of cviza-
ton, peace aud Christianity TO the uncnlightenrd,
warlikc, and heather tribes, who now so feartully
prey upon each other TO support the slave markets OF
the New World; aud a commercial system upon Just,
liberal, and comprehensive principles, which guard
ed the native on the hand, and secured protec-
lion TO the houcst trader the other, would there
fore confer the richest blessings country so long
ISOLATED and degraded by its intercourse with the
bascst and most iniquituus portion Of mank ind"
The average cost Of seasoned slave in Cuba is
c 100 sterling but it has been that in Enarea
and other parts Of the interior he may be purchased
for ten pieces Of salt, equival 10 two shngs and
peDny-for pair Of Birmingham scissors, or even
for few ellis Of blue calico Hence is only fair to
infer that the hire OF the freeman would be in the
ratio; and if So it must be sufficiently obvious
that this cheap labor, applied 10 a soil not less pro-
duciye than that Of the most favored countries in
the world, enable Africa TO raise tropical pro
duce that will beat in every market 10 which it may
be introduced
Able adyocat Of the cause of humanity have upon
these grounds clearly demonstrated that in order to
suppress completely the foreign traffic in human
flesh, il i, only necessary 10 raise, in any more COM
mauding and accessible point, which affords the rea-
dlcst outlet sugar Coffee aud cotton and to throw
these yearly into the market of the world, already
fully supplied by expensive slave labor. The
ton of this cheap additional produce would so depress
the price current in every other quarter that the
external slave trade would no longer be profitable,
and it would therefore cease TO exist.
But few people are more desirous or more capable
OF trading than the natives Of Africa; and the facility
with which factories might be formed is sufficiently
proved by the reception heretofore experienced in
various parts of the continent. Abundance of land
now unuccupird could be purchased rented at
mere nominal rate, in positions where the permanent
residence Of the white man would be hailed with
universal Joy, contributing TO the repose of tribes
long harrassed and prosecuted The serf would seek
honest employment in the field, and the chiefs Of
slave dealing states gladly entering into any arrange
mcnt for the introduction OF wealth and nery, would
after the establishment Of agriculture, longer find
their interest in The flood of human victims which is
annually poured through the highlands Of Abys-
sinia
To descant, therefore upon the importance of such
a communication as the Gochob may prove 10 the
countries in which il is situated, with which ii
promises an easy access, would be work of super
erogaion. Much has been written, and great praise
most Justly bestowed, upon the policy which has
seen, in many barbarous location the future marts
of a boundlcss and lucrative commerce-the centres
whence its attendant blessings, knowledge, civiiZa
ton and wealth, would radiate among savage hordes.
Here are no deserts but nations already prepared for
Improvement, aud countries gifted by nature with
congrnaI climate and with boundless extent Of
virgin SOIL where the indigo and the plant flourish
spout eousy, and wherc the growth Of the sugar.
cane aud Of every other tropical production may be
carried TO an unlimited eXtent-regons producing
grain in vast superabundauce, and rich in valuable
saples-coton, coffee, spices ivory, gold dust, pei
tries, and drugs-all, in fact that is requisite 10 im
part value aud activity TO exchange
Bombay, (who monopoze the principal part of the
trade al the Fair,) TO the natives. The nanufdc-
fures IF England almost entirely excluded from
the market by American cloth; which is brought here
from Mocha and other ports Of the Red Sea visited
by American traders. This cloth be purchased
at considerably less price than the English cloth.
Indefd the american trade in cotton is fast suppressed
ing the English both in the ports Of Ycman, and also
Muscat and the Persian Gulf; and should the British
government Of India in their wisdom declare Alden
free port, the merchants Of Bombay may say fare
well to British commerce with Arabia, in that
event Alden, well as Mocha aud Muscat, will form
an entrcpot for American cotons, which will after
ards be circulated in The Interior to the exclusion
Of British manufactures
The Highlands of Ethiopia by Major w. CORVALLIS
Harris Honorable East India Company's Engineers.