Genre:

Proceedings, Spoof

Subjects:

Religion, Race, Zoology, Cultural Geography, Commerce, Exploration, Steam-power

    Recounts the proceedings of a 'Meeting of Capitalists' and others interested in launching a company for developing 'the traffic in objects of worship with the various tribes of savages who practised the religion called fetichism'. The chairman notes that 'A splendid prospect for the idol-trade was opened up by the late discoveries of Dr. Livingstone and Captain Burton in the interior of Africa', and upholds the commercial gain from selling 'figures' of animals. He challenges Mr Dibbins's suggestion that they should sell steam-powered fetiches on the grounds that such idols would be 'expensive and too good for barbarians'.