of guns and munitions of war were introduced into the interior of Africa. What I wish to state more especially is, that there were States which had these laws altered during those years, in which it was a very profitable thing to sell guns and ammunition in the interior of Africa. The Orange Free State resisted the introduction of arms and ammunition. Questions arose between the Transvaal and the Orange Free State on account of the introduction of arms, and the Natal Government steadily resisted during those years, and up to the present day, the introduction of arms for any other purpose than for the use of the white man. I was for many years a resident in Africa, and I have had great pleasure in hearing the lecture of Dr. Holub. A good deal of it has been interesting to me, and I have learnt much that I did not know before. I only hope and trust that Dr. Holub’s health will be such that he may be enabled to do greater work still. (Hear, hear.)
Captain J . C . R . Colomb: One observation I would wish to make with regard to the conclusion to which Dr. Holub has so forcibly drawn your attention to-night, and that is as to the very great apparent advantage that would be gained if his proposals were carried out, and even without further investigation, if they were found to be absolutely correct. It is on broad grounds that I altogether differ from the theory that would suppose British enterprise and industry choosing the eastern coast of Africa as a starting point to open up Africa. My broad grounds are simply these—that I would rather do it from any other point of the coast than from the east coast; for the simple reason that I think we are already hard pressed to get the commerce we already possess through the Suez Canal; and I object to adding to this traffic in times of peace, for the difficulties which it would create in times of war. Therefore I think Dr. Holub’s explorations and the conclusions at which he has arrived are a very material gain to our British possessions, not only with reference to South Africa- for I decline to take in a detailed view of it—but our British possessions as a united Empire. I contend it is of the greatest possible advantage that we should use that base which our fathers have gained for us—the base of the southern extremity of Africa—to open up the central part of that continent. Another remark I would further make is this—that I wish those who have been clamouring during the past year or two for stimulating British progress in South Africa could have heard the lecture to-night—(hear, hear)—because we are accustomed to hear, on the one hand, of magnificent philanthropic schemes of British enterprise being undertaken to civilise all the world, and the same people are too apt when difficult emergencies
