Researches in South Africa; Illustrating the Civil, Moral, and Religious Condition of the Native Tribes: Including Journals of the Author's Travels In

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1828 edition. Excerpt: ... Researches in South Africa John Philip PREFACE. If there be any truth in the remark of Dean Swift, that the man who makes three blades of grass grow where only two grew before deserves well of his country, the faithful and able missionary may be allowed to occupy a chief seat among the friends and benefactors of the human race. His labours smooth the way for the triumph of science; increase the produce of the earth, by multiplying the hands employed in its cultivation; and create new demands for the manufactures of his own country, while he is lessening the miseries of his fellowcreatures, elevating savages and barbarians to a state of civilization, and cheering them with the hope of a life to come. Man, in his individual and collective capacity, is so constituted, that no improvement can take place in any part of the one or the other without diffusing its influence over the whole man, and over the whole frame of society. The thorough knowledge of one science requires a general acquaintance with many others. With the improvements of science, the arts and manufactures of a country may be expected to keep pace. The late discoveries in chemistry, for instance, have diffused their influence and their energies over every depart-. ment of science, from its general principles to its most minute details, from the lofty speculations of the philosopher to the humble operations of the mechanic. It is the same as it respects the progress of genuine religion. With the Reformation arose a thirst for knowledge in general; and to the strength of that desire may be traced the extension of printing, the resurrection of genius, the establishment of schools, the multiplication of books, and the brightest period in the annals of