But, exclusively of these sacrifices, it had been asserted, that it was kindness to the inhabitants to take them away from their own country.  But what said the historians of Africa, long before the question of the abolition was started?  “Axim,” says Bosman, “is cultivated, and abounds with numerous large and beautiful villages:  its inhabitants are industriously employed in trade, fishing, or agriculture.”—­“The inhabitants of Adom always expose large quantities of corn to sale, besides what they want for their own use.”—­“The people of Acron husband their grounds and time so well, that every year produces a plentiful harvest.”  Speaking of the Fetu country, he says,—­“Frequently, when walking through it, I have seen it abound with fine well-built and populous towns, agreeably enriched with vast quantities of corn and cattle, palm-wine, and oil.  The inhabitants all apply themselves, without distinction, to agriculture; some sow corn; others press oil, and draw wine from the palm-trees.”

Smith, who was sent out by the royal African company in 1726, assures us, “that the discerning natives account it their greatest unhappiness, that they were ever visited by the Europeans.  They say that we Christians introduced the traffic of slaves; and that before our coming they lived in peace.  But, say they, it is observable, wherever Christianity comes, there come swords and guns, and powder and ball, with it.”

“The Europeans,” says Bruce, “are far from desiring to act as peace-makers among them.  It would be too contrary to their interests; for the only object of their wars is to carry off slaves; and, as these form the principal part of their traffic, they would be apprehensive of drying up the source of it, were they to encourage the people to live well together.”

“The neighbourhood of the Damel and Tin keep them perpetually at war, the benefit of which accrues to the Company, who buy all the prisoners made on either side; and the more there are to sell, the greater is their profit; for the only end of their armaments is to make captives, to sell them to the white traders.”

Artus, of Dantzic, says, that in his time “those liable to pay fines were banished till the fine was paid; when they returned to their houses and possessions.”

Bosman affirms, “that formerly all crimes in Africa were compensated by fine or restitution, and, where restitution was impracticable, by corporal punishment.”

Moore says, “Since this trade has been used, all punishments have been changed into slavery.  There being an advantage in such condemnation, they strain the crimes very hard, in order to get the benefit of selling the criminal.  Not only murder, theft, and adultery, are punished by selling the criminal for a slave, but every trifling crime is punished in the same manner.”

Loyer affirms that “the King of Sain, on the least pretence, sells his subjects for European goods.  He is so tyrannically severe, that he makes a whole village responsible for the fault of one inhabitant; and on the least offence sells them all for slaves.”