The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-05

In a chapter on the negro of South Central
Africa our author places before the reader Q
studious summing up OF his physical and men
tai characteristics. He 10 described as being. in
a word. a fine animal. but, in his wild state no
exhibits a stunted mind. and a dull content
with his surroundings. which induces mental
staGnation. cessation of all upward progress. and
even retrogression toward the brute. Our au-
thor, indeed. is inclined to think that, in soms
respects. the tendency OF the negro for several
centuries past has been decidedly retrogressivo.
As he has learned to read the unwritteu his
tory OF Africa by researches into languages. man.
ners. customs. and traditions. he seems to discern
a backward rather than a forward motion going
on for at least a thousand years past. a return
toward the savage and even the beast. Our
author can even believe It possible that, had
Africa been more isolated from contact with the
rest OF the world. aud been utterly cut on from
purely neRroid races, left to themselves far
from advancing toward n higher type OF human
ity, might have actually reverted. by degrees. 10
q type no longer human, just as the great apes
lingering in the dense forests OF Western Africa.
into which they are, relatively speaking, quite
recent immigrants from Asia and Europe. have
become. in many respects, degraded types that
have known better days. OF larger brains. and
tho black man. in all his varieties. except two or
three or the most retrograde, he il not too FAR
gone Tor recovery. and for an upward turn Of
the evolutionary type, n turn which, II rcso-
intely followed. may, at some future day. bring
him upon a level with the yellow II not with the
white species OF man.
We come finally to what Sir II. H.. Johnston
has to say, about tho future OF the region with
European. He Is convinced. he tells us. that tho
eastern portion OF British Central Africa, tho
portion with which he is familiar. will never he
aatMrihn,a,e mans country In the sense that al
north OF the Sahara; will eventually become
native 10 the soil. 1t is his opinion thai. between
ne latitudes OF the ZambcHi and tho Blue Nile,
Africa must. In the FIRST Instance. be g%overne,i
predominant in numbers II not in infu'
ence: The future OF tropical Africa, IN
snort Is 10 DO another India. not another Aus
nehtlly Central Africa; he can only settle on a
rev Favored tracts. MS he would do In the north
OF lnuia. Nevertheless. Central Africa DOsscss's
nouhuless resources In the way ofvomm rec. for
u Ia extremely rich in natural products, amin,
EEsGe,able' and mineral. These it will pay the
european 70 develop. and they should equally
prohL The black man to produce. CntHughi ny
inc European, he was livirg like nm animal.
mlserabiy poor In the midst OF houndless wealth.
nihught ny the European. he will be able 10 turn
Get while the European. on the other hand. viii
ne enriched by this evolution OF en-. rpri.r'
central Africa. however, in our authors JuGE'
menl, Is as remote from self.gOvernmcnt or Fri-
inula. IL can only he administCrci under the
ouneVoieht ,despotism OF an impcritl Govern
mrhl, though IN the future and developed hH'
mmihietrhtlon there Is no reason 10 suppose thas
ol,rk m n may not serve as officials in common
WITH white men and with yellow men, Just =.
ther3 are negro officials In the administrnIionYt
the Vest African colonies and Malay officials
Al tho government OF the Strait Settlements