The African Society and Miss Mary H. Kingsley. (West Africa,
46 Cannon Street.)—" Do not force European civilisation on African tribes, but do your best to elevate and improve their indigenous systems,"—such, in effect, is the plea set forth in this volume, and expressing the object which the African Society has in view. This is obviously far too complex a question to be discussed here. The author of this pamphlet does not state distinctly the propositions which he would establish ; but we gather that slavery and polygamy are among the social institu- tions which are not to be disturbed, perhaps we should say are to be elevated rather than destroyed. On the subject of religion we cannot find any very clear utterance. But we gather that the writer favours the views of Miss Mary Kingsley, who, it is said, frankly stated that though she yielded to none "in admiration for Christ, and believed in His divine origin," she "could not believe in the religion which His ministers preached." But our readers should go to the pamphlet and judge for themselves.
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