247 PLAN GRADUAL CIVILISATION OF AFRICA, On the Commercial Intercourse 'with Africa through the Sahara and Ashantee, lo cultivate an extensive commercial intercourse with Africa, I have already observed, that the best method, the simplest, and that which is, from contingent circumstances, the most likely to succeed, is the plan which I have pointed out in the following prospectus. I shall now offer several reasons why this plan is superior to any other hitherto suggested.

The riches of the Arabs of Sahara generally, as well as of that part which I have contemplated as a convenient spot for estabUshing a colony, and for opening a communication with Sudan, consists exclusively in camels. The independence of a man is there ascertained by the number of camels he possesses j it is not said, how many thousand dollars has he ? or, what quantity of gold does he possess? or, what land has he? but, how many camels does he own ? The master of these, aptly denominated, ships of the Desert, is urged by interest to let on hire his camels, as R 4