Degrading influence of Paganism and Tyranny

to identify the whole of Africa with the specimens she had seen, and to judge of the intellectual powers of all by the present degradation of the great portion of the Negro race in this country, that she had lost sight of so important facts, or at least was unaccustomed to think of them in this connexion, professed to be quite ashamed' of herself. I really do not know,' she said, ' which most surprises me, my own stupidity in relation to this subject, or the interesting views which open to my mind, by reason of the light which Pa has thrown upon it. But, Pa,' she continued, 'the whole continent of Africa is exceeding degraded now; do you not think that the African intellect, generally, has greatly deteriorated?'

'My daughter,' said Mr. L., 'human nature, in whatever situation is wronged, if we judge of its capacity unfavorably, merely because we find that paganism and tyranny degrade those that fall under their influence.* Perhaps, however, we shall pursue this whole subject to greater advantage if, taking time for its consideration and discussion, we call to our aid somewhat of system in arrangement of topics, and

* 66 From the paralyzing influence of slavery, the ancient slaves of all nations, whatever their complexion, were considered inferior in intellect. This is noticed by Homer:

<For half his senses Jove conveys away,

Whom once he dooms to see the servile day.'

Yet what was benumbed, was not destroyed. Out of the stagnant pool of slavery arose a Servius Tullius, the sixth king of Rome; an Esop, one of the wise men of Greece; a Phaedrus, who wrote fables in Iambic verse: an Alcmen, a Lyric poet; an Epictetus, the celebrated stoic philosopher; and a Terrence, a distinguished dramatic writer among the Romans. * *The present depressed state of the African mind may be accounted for without supposing any original or permanent inferiority. For thirty centuries they have been the common spoil of the world, and treated as if they were made only for slaves. And as to those who are found in other countries, what could be expected of creatures so circumstanced? Torn from their native soil in a state of nature, kept in the profoundest ignorance, with every obstacle opposed to their improvement, depressed by the most cruel treatment, by a series of wrongs enough to extinguish the last spark of genius, and with no hope-no incentive to exertion."-President Griffin's Plea for Africa.

Conversation deferred.

glance in the first place at the former history of Africa, and then at her condition in later times, noticing the wrongs that have been done her in the prosecution of the slave-trade, and the claims which Africa has upon our sympathy and justice for redress. So that, if you please, we will make this the general plan of our conversations; and as other topics of interest connected with the general subject, and growing out of it, naturally present themselves, they also may be noticed. I am pleased to see you interested in the welfare of Africa, and disposed to acquire correct views, and cherish right feelings in respect to so important a subject. My own sympathies are strongly enlisted in behalf of that much injured people. Their claims to our sympathy and humanity have been too long neglected.'

Both Caroline and Henry expressed much satisfaction with the arrangement proposed, which they assured Mr. L. was very grateful to their feelings, and expressed also a hope that by their attention and improvement, they might be able to give other proof that they appreciate his kindness.

Mr. L., on the other hand, intimated that he had great reason to rejoice that his children gave him so much evidence of their affection and respect, and so much promise in their dutiful, and upright, and ever amiable deportment, of future respectability and usefulness and happiness.

The conversation was now deferred to another time.

Origin of the African Race.

CONVERSATION II.

"God drave asunder, and assign'd their lot

To all the nations. Ample was the boon

He gave them, in its distribution fair

And equal; and he bade them dwell in peace."-Couper.

'WELL, my son, Caroline and I are waiting for you that we may take up the subject of our last evening's conversation," said Mr. L., after a little conversation with C. on various topics, while Henry seemed to be busily engaged, in the adjoining room, in turning over the pages and examining the contents of a large folio which lay before him.

'I am ready, Pa,' said H.; 'I was looking at what is said under the word "Africa," in the Encyclopedia. C. and I have been examining one book after another a great part of the day, to satisfy ourselves from which of the sons of Noah the Africans are descended. The Old Testament has been C.'s chief book of reference, whilst Calmet, and Brown, and others have been searched by me, I confess, without much benefit.'

Caroline was confident that their father could give them more information on the subject in one half hour than they might otherwise acquire by a whole month's study.'

Mr. L. remarked, I think we proposed, last evening, to glance first at the history of the African race: the question you were agitating, then, in respect to their origin, is the first to be considered. On this point we must refer to a period which profane history does not reach, but on which the word of God sheds its holy light, teaching us that Africa was planted by the descendants of HAM, the son of Noah.

'Ham, you will recollect, had four sons. Of these it is generally agreed, that Cush settled in Lower Egypt, and that

Africa, by whom originally settled.

from him were descended the ancient Æthiopians, known to us as the Nubians and Abyssinians, and embracing also those unknown nations inhabiting the equatorial regions of the African continent. Hence," Cush" is the name applied in the Hebrew Bible to Ethiopia, embracing also in its frequent application Africa in general. Mizraim, the second son, peopled what was known to the ancients as the Thebais, Hermopolis, Memphis, and Delta of the Nile; but better known to us as parts of Upper and Lower Egypt, sometimes called in the Hebrew scriptures "the land of Ham,” oftener "Mizraim." From him also were descended the inhabitants of Colchis, the ancestors of the warlike Philistines. Phut, another son, peopled Lybia and Mauritania, embracing the kingdom of Fez, the Deserts, Algiers, and other portions. From these, with such additions as emigration and frequent conquest have given, it is probable that all the nations of Africa, however divided, mixed, or dispersed, originally came.'

Henry suggested, You have not mentioned Canaan, telling us where he settled; I suppose, from the omission, that he settled in Asia, in the country called by his name?'

'Yes: Canaan, the youngest son of Ham, settled in "Canaan," so called after him, which is sometimes called in scripture "Judah," and is also familiarly known by us as the "land of promise," and is also called "Palestine." A colony of Phoenicians, known in scripture as Canaanites, settled at Carthage, and probably spread themselves over other portions of Africa.'

C. here referred to an impression on the minds of many, that Africans generally are descended from Canaan; and that they are therefore doomed to perpetual slavery by the curse which Noah denounced against him, Genesis ix. 2527. She thought she had heard advanced, or had somewhere read a sentiment of the kind.

The curse denounced against Canaan.

H. thought that they who suppose this, should have better reasons than they have for considering the Africans descended from Canaan, before they make such an application of the words of Noah. Being requested by his father, he read the passage: "Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. Blessed be the Lord God of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant."

'That,' observed Mr. L., ' is truly a remarkable prophecy. It is supposed, by Commentators, to have been recorded for the encouragement of the Israelites in warring with the Canaanites. The passage is attended with some difficulty in the minds of many, who, to obviate that difficulty, read the original, "Cursed be Ham, the father of Canaan ;" in which case you see that Africa would, beyond doubt, be affected by the denunciation. And if it have not this meaning, it may indeed be difficult to see the propriety of applying the curse to Africa at large.'

It was very natural that both C. and H. who had been giving their close attention to the instructions of Mr. L., should here ask, for they did not see, why any should change the reading of the translation to make the curse rest. on Ham!' The difficulty, however, which some have found, or imagined, in the proper application of the denunciation, Mr. L. explained, referring them to the 24th verse of the same chapter, which verse immediately precedes the denunciation, and reads as follows; "And awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him."

6

Henry now saw, at once, the difficulty. • His younger son,' H. exclaimed; Ham was Noah's second son, was he not, Pa?'

Yes; it appears that Ham was the second, and not the