first calling a palaver on his conduct, or in other words, bringing him to a public trial. But this degree of protection is extended only to the native or domestic slave. Captives taken in war, and those unfortunate victims who are condemned to slavery for crimes or insolvency, — and in short, all those unhappy people who are brought down from the interior countries for sale — have no security whatever, but may be treated and disposed of in all respects as the owner thinks proper."[1]
Such is a view of the internal state and condition of Africa — as it is, and as, according to all accounts, it has been for ages, and from the earliest times. According to the representation of the traveler above quoted, -(and no one, perhaps, has had a better opportunity both for inquiry and observation), nearly or quite three-fourths of the inhabitants of Africa — so far as any exploration has been made — are held in a state of bondage, of absolute slavery and subjection to the remaining fourth. The population of Africa has been roughly estimated at from 120 to 160 millions: taking the mean between these two — 140 millions — we have, for three-fourths of this number, 105 millions; showing, thus, the existence of upwards of one hundred millions of slaves within the borders of that benighted continent. What an enormous number is this! How insignificant, in comparison, seem the numbers in the New World — the three millions in North America, and the two millions in Brazil![2]
