Most of the peoples of the African coasts are savages or barbarians. I believe that is largely because nearly uninhabitable lands separate small countries which can be habitable. They have no industry, they have no arts ; they have an abundance of precious metals which they receive directly from the hands of nature. All civilized peoples are therefore in a position to deal advantageously with them ; they can induce them to prize things of no value, and get a very high price for them.