I observed to him, that less was known of this continent than of the others:  that a spirit of lively curiosity had been excited by the western nations of Europe, to become acquainted with the inhabited parts of the globe; but that all the efforts yet made, had still left a large portion almost entirely unknown.  I asked if he did not think it probable that some of the nations in the interior of Africa were more advanced in civilization than those on the coast, whose barbarous custom of making slaves of their prisoners, Europeans had encouraged and perpetuated, by purchasing them.

“No, no,” said he; “the benefits of civilization could not have been so easily confined, but would have spread themselves over every part of that continent, or at least as far as the Great Desert, if they had ever existed.  The intense heat of a climate, lying on each side of the Line, at once disinclines men to exertion, and renders it unnecessary.  Vegetable diet is more suited to them than animal, which favours a denser population.  Talent is elicited by the efforts required to overcome difficulties and hardships; and their natural birth-place is a country of frost and snow—­of tempests—­of sterility enough to give a spur to exertion, but not enough to extinguish hope.  Where these difficulties exist, and give occasion to war and emulation, the powers of the human mind are most frequently developed.”

“Do you think then,” said I, “that there is no such thing as natural inferiority and differences of races?”

“I have been much perplexed by that question,” said he.  “When I regard the great masses of mankind, I think there seems to be among them some characteristic differences.  I see that the Europeans have every where obtained the ascendancy over those who inhabit the other quarters of the globe.  But when I compare individuals, I see always the same passions, the same motives, the same mental operations; and my opinion is changed.  The same seed becomes a very different plant when sowed in one soil or another, and put under this or that mode of cultivation.”

“And may not,” said I, “the very nature of the plant be changed, after a long continuance of the same culture in the same soil?”

“Why, that is but another mode of stating the question.  I rather think, if it has generally degenerated, it may, by opposite treatment, be also gradually brought back to its original excellence.”

“Who knows, then,” said I, “what our missionaries and colonization societies may effect in Africa.”

He inquired of me what these societies were; and on explaining their history, observed:  “By what you tell me, it is indeed a small beginning; but if they can get this grain of mustard-seed to grow, there is no saying how much it may multiply.  See what a handful of colonists have done in your own country.  A few ship-loads of English have overspread half a continent; and, from what you tell me, their descendants will amount, in another century,