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Show 44 ON THE SLAVERY AND CoMMERCE try; of fecuring themfelves by fortified poil:s; of changing their fyil:em of force into that of pretended liberality; and of opening, by every fpecies of bribery and corruption, a communication with the natives. Thefe plans were put into immediate execution. The Europeans erected their ·*forts; landed their merchandize; and endeavoured, by a peaceable deportment, by prefen ts, and by every appearance of munificence, to [educe the attachment and confidence of the Africans. Thefe fchemes h ad the delired effect. The gaudy trappings of European art, not only caught their attention, but excited their curiofity: they da«zled the eyes and bewitched the fenfes, not only of thofe, to whom they were given, but of thofe, to whom they were !hewn. Thus followed a fpeedy intercourfe with each other, and a confidence, highly favourable to the views of avarice or ambition. It was now time for the Europeans to embrace the opportunity, which this inter- • The Portugueft creacd their firll fort at D'Elmir.a, in the year 148 1, about forty years after Alonzo Gonzales had pointed the Southern Africans out to hi~ countrymen as arti~ lcs of commerce. courfe OF THE HUMAN SPEC!~S. cot~rfe had tht~s afforded them, of carrying their fchemes Into execution, and of fixing them on fuch a permanent foundation, as ihould · fecure them fut~tre fuccefs. They had already d1fcovered, In the different inte: views obtained, the chiefs of the African tnbes. They paid their court therefore to thefe, and fo compleatly intoxicated their fenfcs with the luxuries, which they brought from home, as to be able to [educe them to their delign s. A treaty of peace and commerce was immediately concluded : it was agreed, tha: the kings, on their part, fhould, from tlus period, fentence prijimers '?/' war and coqvitls to European flrvitude. and t~at the Europeans fl10uld fuppl' them, m return, with the luxuries of th~ · north. This agreement immediately took place; and thus begun that commerce, which makes fo conliderable a figure at the prefent day. But happy had the Africans been, if thofe only, who had been jull:ly convicted of crimes, or taken in a juil: war, had been fentenced tO the fcverities of fervitude! How many of thofe miferies, which after-wards |