New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-22
The London Times not long since suggested, by

cotton cultivation into Africa, that if the cutlya
ton succeeded it could only be by the African
chiefs forcing their subjects to labor at it for their
own benefit, and that nothing would be gained in a
philanthropcal point of view by substituting slave
cotton cultivation in Africa for the benefit Of Afri-
can chiefs in the place of slave cultivation in the
United States for the benefit of Carolina planters.
These remarks Oh the part Of The Times have drawn
out letter addressed to that journal by David
Livingston, the renowned African traveller, distin-
gushed for his recent discoveries in the more south
ern part Of that continent. This letter, though
rather rambling and discursiye-as is natural, per-
hops, to such a traveller as the writer has been
contains however, good deal of information. We
gather from it the folio wing facts:
DR.. Livingston does not think that the consttu-
ton Of African society is such as, IN the case Of
tho introduction into Africa of profitable branches
of industry, whether cotton-grOwipg or anything
else, to put it in the power of the chiefs to con-
vert themselves into shareholders and their people
into slaves laboripg for their benefit. The govern
ment of most of the African tribes is patriarcha,
each man becoming the head or chief Of his own
family and their dependents. Above these patr-
archal chiefs are others, known in the African dis
lects as "Httle lords" whose authority extends
over several families, and to whose assistance, in
case of any difficulty in managing their dependents
the family chiefs appeal. Above these is head
chief, having bis cattle.pen and family dwelling in
the center of the town, before whom are brought
the cases of difference between families. In all
,F tha haf ia
little lords "-generally bis relations by blood or
marrisge-who give their opinions freely. If the
chief is man Of energy, he decides according to
bis own idess-otherwise he is governed by the
majority but IN very few cases does be act in op-
position to decided public opinion. Even one or two
firm opponents will make him hesitate aud wayer,
or perhaps have recourse to dice or dvnaton. These
remarks apply particularly to the country south OF
$50 south latitude. In the country OF the true
negro, which lies north Of that point, the political
relations are generally the same though somewhat
modified BY female influence. But the general
relations Of enc tribe TO another were the same in all
parts of the country that came under DR.. Living
ston's observation. One tribe is perfectly inde-
pendent Of every other, except BY sort of tradi-
tonal bond of nominal subsection 10 paramount
chief which becomes developed in case of invasion
or common danger. Among the negroes north Of
l5o this system Of paramount chiefs prevails IN
somew hat greater force than in Caffreland though
even with them it is much more in name than in
substance.
But the chiefs, though nearly independent ofeach
other, are by no means independent of their people.
II man is dissatisfied with one chief, he eau easily
trsn,fer himself TO another; and as chiefs impor-
lance increases with the number of his followers,
fugitiyes are always received with open arms. DR..
Livingston knew Of one instance, the parties to
which he nance, in which chief sold some of his
people; the consequence Of which was that whole
villages renowned bis authority and joined them
selves TO a neighborng confederacy. In most parts
Of the country the facilities Of escape are so great
that the slave system would not work, even though
il were desirable TO establish it.
But in point of fact the real productive industry
of the country is carried on by free laborers, aud
only requires the impulse of roads to be greatly
tended. The 10000 skins sent annually TO the
Cspe, whence maDy Of them find their way TO China
to purchase tea, are collected by the Bushmen and
Bukuluhaor, the most free and independent persons
in the country. Very large amounts of ivory
beeswax and palm and sweet oil are exported from
Loando, almost the whole produced by perfectly
free labor, ard had the country rosds, the export
would be increased hundred fold. These articles
can be obtained at very cheap rate in the interior
and the negroes all have great prCcliyity to traffic
Formerly the traders went inland, aud, along
with beeswax, ivory, &c, purchased slaves sufi-
cent to carry their merchandise to the coast, where
both the goods and their carriers were sold. Since
the repression OF the ssvetrade free carriers have
been substituted, whom the Government of Angels
requires TO render their services at a fixed rate
rgos contains population of COG, 900, and only
from 80 geo 10 40, 600 are slaves. From all these
facts, our African traveller is Of opinion, first that
the African chiefs have no power TO reduce their
subjects to the condition of plat tatiOn labOrers;
aud, secondly, that slavery is BY no means necessa
~ to the development Of African industry, whether
in cotton cultivation or otherwise.
DR.. Livingston states that be carried with him to
Africa tie idea picked up from the Parliamentary
debates and elsewhere that the attempt al the sap
preston of The African slave trade was failure,
aad that the cruisers BY il c easing the horrors Of
the middle passage did more harm than good
Ills observations IN Africa have led him to df-
fereut conclusion. In Angola be found the tine
e the slave-trsde spoken OF in the past tense. He
saw slaves sold for twelve shillings head within
hurdied mills of re coast. who wo1d formerly
hsve cou uspf,6 s~yeJty 6ola-s; ard be trave ed
Nth couPsi ie' Of ,'''ts Chiefly w"lneu) tos
hrculh h. from he .urcuor toward t'e coi,I, bat
carried ir Angola ie.o he interior to be csrte,ed