6609. _Chairman._] How would you provide fuel for the steamers in those parts?--I am not aware how far wood might be substituted for coal; I think in that part wood certainly might be used, because they would be able to take in supplies so frequently. 6610. They would have no long distances to go?--Not in that district. 6611. So that they need never be far removed from the depôts?--Precisely; there might be depôts at Bulama, and at the Gambia, and at Sierra Leone; the great difficulty is the engineers; you are obliged to have white engineers at present, but there is no sort of reason why black people of Sierra Leone should not be brought up for the purpose. There are numbers sufficiently educated for the purpose, and with proper instruction, in the course of a few years, they would supersede the necessity for white engineers. 6612. Mr. _Forster_.]--Have you not found the natives rather remarkable for the quickness and facility with which they learn mechanical operations of that kind?--I have found them quite equal to white people in that respect, possessing great intelligence, and quickness, and shrewdness, making allowance for their want of education and barbarous habits in general. 6613. Mr. _Wortley_.] Did you ever consider how far it would be possible to establish an effective blockade upon the coast which has been the scene of the slave trade by means of a combination of steamers and sailing cruizers?--I believe that by such means, by taking certain districts of the coast pointed out by particular circumstances, and effectively and continuously blockading those parts, and then moving from point to point, leaving a smaller force to prevent the slave trade from reviving, that system would be perfectly effective in the course of three years, supposing the forces to be increased. 6614. Sir _T. D. Acland_.] From what point to what point?--I speak merely of the West Coast, I have no knowledge of the East; but I have no hesitation in saying that it might be effected from Cape Verde down to the northern part of our Cape of Good Hope dominions. 6615. Mr. _Wortley_.] In order to accomplish that object are you able to state what you imagine would be the necessary force of steamers and cruizers?--I should say that steamers are only necessary in particular parts; I should say that six steamers would be quite enough. 6616. _Chairman._] And how many sailing-vessels?--There are now upon the coast sixteen sailing-vessels; I would increase them by at least one-half; I would withdraw all the cruizers now employed in checking the slave trade on the other side of the Atlantic; I consider them, as regards the suppression of the slave trade, as entirely useless. 6617. Do you know what number are employed on the other side of the Atlantic?--On the other side of the Atlantic they have various other duties to perform; I can scarcely say that any of them are exclusively employed in this service.