not born such, become reduced to slavery: this lets us still further into an understanding of the true condition of Africa.
"Slaves of the second description generally become such by one or other of the following causes: — 1. Captivity; 2. Famine; 3. Insolvency; 4. Crimes. A freeman may, by the established customs of Africa, become a slave, by being taken in war. War is, of all others, the most productive source, and was probably the origin, of slavery; for when one nation had taken from another a greater number of captives than could be exchanged on equal terms, it is natural to suppose that the conquerors, finding it inconvenient to maintain their prisoners, would compel them to labor, — at first, perhaps, only for their own support, but afterwards to support their masters. Be this as it may, it is a known fact, that prisoners of war in Africa are the slaves of the conquerors; and when the weak or unsuccessful warrior begs for mercy beneath the uplifted spear of his opponent, he gives up at the same time his claim to liberty, and purchases his life at the expense of his freedom.
"In a country divided into a thousand petty states, mostly independent and jealous of each other, where every freeman is accustomed to arms, and fond of military achievements, — where the youth who has practised the bow and spear from his infancy longs for nothing so much as an opportunity to display his valor, — it is natural to imagine that wars frequently originate from very frivolous provocations. When one nation is more powerful than another, a pretext is seldom wanting to commence hostilities. Thus, the
