The Expiring Continent. By Alex. W. Mitchinson. (W. 11. Allen
and Co.)—It is not difficult to guess that the "expiring con- tinent" is Africa. One is used to seeing strange epithets applied to it, but why " expiring ?" Many people think that there is a great future before it. Mrs. Stowe, for instance, gives a hint of the Negro being the coming race of the world. (Is it possible that it is a mistake, and that Mr. Mitchinson meant "perspiring ?" That would be at least intelligible) The special part of Africa which the traveller visited was Senegambia. Very few people go to Senegambia, and still fewer come back. Hence, any one who has had the courage to go and the good-fortune to return has a certain claim to be heard. When he deals with subjects whereon we are capable of forming an opinion, Mr. Mitchinson does not inspire us with confidence. It is not likely that a man will get any special enlightenment on the origin of religion by travelling to the West Coast of Africa ; yet Mr. Mitchinson discourses on this subject with great con- fidence, but, as it seems to us, with very little knowledge or dis- cretion. There are other matters on which the experiences of such travel, acting on an unbalanced judgment and uncultured mind, are likely positively to produce errors, all the more obstinate because apparently backed by experience. Such a traveller as Mr. Mitchinson will probably come back in more mental confusion as to the true relation between white and dark races than ho started with. At the same time, there is a certain kind of evidence which he-will be com- petent to give. If the reader will bear constantly in mind the very considerable limitations with which that evidence is to be received, be may got some good from this volume,—that is to say, if lie can manage to read it, for it is about as difficult a piece of reading as we, who are not by any means without experience of this kind, ever came across.
Previous page
