CENTRAL AFRICA
We are happy to insert the article which follows, from
the columns of the Christian Index. The author has written to the Board
on the subject, and his letter is now under consideration. The importance
of the question thus brought before the Southern Baptist Convention, all
will readily perceive. Let our readers implore Divine direction. We
submit the article without further introduction: —
“Africa is truly a land ‘terrible hitherto from the
beginning.’ Its torrid sun, immense deserts, sickly coasts,
ravenous beasts, and savage people have ever made it a dreadful
country, which invites no emigrant. The ancients supposed that the
intense heat of the equatorial regions, rendered the middle parts of
Africa wholly uninhabitable. The modems still regard those
countries with feelings of undefmable awe. We admit that men
may swell happily in the torrid zone in Asia or America, but we
can scarcely imagine that the same is true of Africa.
But it has been ascertained that some parts of Central
Africa, are worthy to be ranked among the most desirable tropical
countries in the world: — watered by noble rivers, of which the
Niger is chief; beautifully diversified with hill and dale, “like the
finest parts of England;’ and remarkably cool and pleasant, on
account of the elevation of the country, and the proximity of the
Mountains of the Moon. Here, in the midst of maize, wheat,
cotton, rice, sugar cane, &c., the native of Georgia might feel
himself almost at home.
This is the country to which the writer would call attention
as an important field for missionaries. Teembo, Sego, Abyssinia
and other places deserve immediate consideration. But my present
design is to speak of the countries which lie on the Niger, between
Timbuctos and the mountains. The nearness of these countries to a
great navigable river; the numerous caravans which pass through
them from various parts of the interior, and from the north; the
progress, however small, which some of the people have made in
civilization; the excellence of the climate in many places - all
these circumstances seem to indicate the propriety of sending
missionaries without delay into this part of Central Africa.
If the Board at Richmond were reflecting on the subject of
a mission to Central Africa, three questions would present
themselves: Where shall we obtain men and money? How shall