Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-10-03
THE CULTIVATION OF COTTON IN
AFRICA.

We learn from the London Anti.Savery Re-
porter ,hat two important papers were present.
ed TO Parliament by the Queen, upon the subject
Of cou.n cultivation in Africa. The author Of
the reG.rt is Consul Campbell, Of Lajos. and we
append synopsis of his papers published in the
Reporter:
1T is stated that the whole of the Yoruba and
other countries south Of the Niger with the laus-
sa and Nuhee countries on the north side of the
same river have been from all time, cotton grow
ing countries and that, notwithstanding the civil
wars, ravages, disorders, and disruptons, caused
by the slave trade, more than sufficient cotton
to cOthe their p0pulatiuns has always been cuti-
waited, and their fabrics have found markets and q
ready sale in those lands where the cotton plant
is not cultivated and into which the fabrics of
Manchester and Glasgow have not yet penetrated
The cultivation OF cotton therefore. in the c0un-
tries already named. is not new to the inhabitants
all that is required is to offer them market for
the sale Of much az they can cultivate and,
by preventing the export OF slaves from the sea-
board, to render some security to life, freedom,
property, and labor. 1t is estimated that the an-
uual cultivation of cotton in the Yuruba and the
adjacent States is equal 200 600 pounds, and
and Mr.. Consul Campbell is of opinion that, when
ever the cotton fabrics Of Engand are introduced,
ria the Niger, to the upper part Of the 1oruba
and the crcun acent districts. the natives will
probably sell their OWE cotton and clohe them
selves with the lighter and cheaper cloths of
Manchester and Glasgow. lie thinks there is no
hOre Of inducing the natives to cultivate coffee,
because it is "a new thing" (the Africans being
obstinately conservative,) and it would require
care, attention, intelligence, and. and above all,
patience. The Cotton alone therefore, can be
looked to as agricultural marketable prOduc-
tion obtainable from the interior Of Africa. Mean
while, English cotton fabrics are gradually work
ing their way into Africa and superseding the
native manufactures. The two great staples of the
trade of Blight Of Benin. az present. are palm oil
and ivory, cotton ranking the third. In his
second despatch, Mr.. Campbell. answering the
leading article which appeared in the Times, on
the 18th of December, 1885, admits that cotton
grown in Africa is still the produce of slave labor
but shows that there is immeasurable distance.
and wide difference in effect and influence be.
ween the compulsory labor of the African slave
in foreign country, the property of the white
man, and his forced labor in the land of his birth
shere he is the property Of his own countryman.
Without entering into the details, it would appear
that the natural effect in Africa Of any commerce.
based on the cultivation of the soil is to tight.
en- them and that if ony attempt should be made
by the Mahommedan African to urge an undue
amount of labor from his slaves. the latter, find
ing the whole country open TO them. and sure Of
the sympathy of their own countrymen, would make
Government of England and the opponents of
Slavery are therefore strongly urged to give
every encouragement to the development of the
agricultural resources possessed by Africa, in or
der to secure and render permanent the victory
gained over the slave trade, aud SO shut out all
prospect of its revival"