ted (_slogie_) greyhound;
which the Arab to whom it belonged observing, insisted on my taking
it home to Santa Cruz, adding, that whenever I wished to hunt, to
let him know, and he would accompany me. I offered him a present of
money for the dog, which is what I never had refused before in the
provinces north of Suse; but he declined the offer, saying he was
more than recompensed already by the establishment of the port of
Santa Cruz. "Myself, my family, my kabyl," said he, "hail you as a
father; (_e moot alik_) they will die in your cause." No favour
could have equalled that of re-establishing the commerce of
Agadeer. These circumstances serve to show what reception might be
expected from these people, if the British Government would
negociate with the Emperor for the purchase of the port of Agadeer,
or Santa Cruz, preparatory to the establishment of a commerce with
Timbuctoo, and other regions of Sudan.

[Footnote 172: In the 815th year of the Hejira, an emigration
from the Howara Arabs attacked, took possession of, and
destroyed the city of Assouan, in Egypt.]

247

PLAN
FOR THE
GRADUAL CIVILISATION OF AFRICA.

_On the Commercial Intercourse with Africa, through the
Sahara and Ashantee._

To 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
establishing 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; 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
248 urged by interest to let on hire his camels, as the master of a
ship o