The New York herald., 1876-10-16
SCIENCE IN EUROPE.
The King of the Belgians and
African Exploration.
OPENING AFRICA LIKE AN OYSTER
An International Commission for Abolish
ing the Slave Trade.
LONDON. Oct !. l876

enti1c, geographical social and unsocaL We have
had the Geographical Congress- held at Brussels with
an Interesting speech by His Majesty the King OF the
Belgans the annual Congress OF the British Assoca-
ton. held this year Glasgow; tho Congress Of the
Orentalsts Ut ST Petersburg and goodly number OF
gatherings about which the world seems TO care
little or nothing. The least successful OF
The three great gatherings mentioned has been that
OF the British Association. The Aorning Post says
the general impression that has been tho
duesi congresses Of association on record Cap
tain Cameron have been under abnormal In
Huencc other when he addressed the Gcogra aphcal
Section; for We cannot Imagine that this daring
slcr knows the natives OF Africa no better shan TO
assert that .'one must daai with them gentlemen
with gentlemen" in ORDER TO got along with them.
OF the distinguished traveller had Mr. SANKEY'S
recent letters in mind One would think that Captain
Cameron Is In tho habit Of reading the missionary
papers and the Saturday Reve, whose editors, seated
In their cushioned chairs, imagine that they
plore continents and subugatc the rude savage by the
simple exercise OF their own irresistible seductive
suavity OF manner II would DO just as generous 70
say that when Cameron reached the LuaaDa at Nyan-
give and turned away from u without oven trying to
descend It on . raft. he proved himself longer
worthy Of the name Of explorer. He preferred to
uudgc 8. 600 miles and to fail when
within his grasp.
THE BRUSSELS GEOGRAPHICAL CONGRESS.
Tho idea OF tounding Belgian colony IL distant
part OF The world order tho OF
commerce and industry was always a favorte wish OF
Leopold IL Of Belgium. AS Crown Prince he pub
ished pamphlet under the title Of ssLe Complement
dc pEuvre 1885, !" in which he explained various
plans. Some years afscrward whom he had become
King, he sent al his own expense an engineer M Ean,
subsequently the private secretary of the Emperor
Naxman, OF Mexico TO Australia and the islands OF
Sappy suc, @nen sy any other naon
mtg serve the Belgian purpose o.; colonization Al
present tho King OF the Bcgians has resumed this
plan aud the proposal rs " establish o colony
Southern Africa 10 which 10 80 be joined penal set
Element tho French model Friendly relations have
been established Tor the purpose with Pretoria the
capital oi tho Transvaal kepubnc, and II Is hoped that
M some thousands OF Belgians avail themselves immo-
datsy OF this new opportunity for engrAting the paa
will DO realized.
THE KINGS ADDRESS.
The King OF the Bclgans has however. higher aims
he wishes TO promote the further exploration Con.
r and TO take steps for tho suppression or tho
slave trade In bis opening address the King said
81 have arrived at the belief that II might be conven-
lent tor you TO come and discuss anu determine
common, with the authority belonging to you, tho
TO De followed AMI the means 10 be cd for
planting d0fnitivcly The standard OF civilization the
soil OF Central Africa, and 10 come TO agreement
what has be done 10 interest the public IN
noble enterprise and TO induce II 10 contribute toward
II. For, gentlemen. In works Of this kind II 10 the
concurrence OF numbers which gives success
II the sympathy of the which
be solicited ana obtained. In TACT what resources
could not be disposed oil II all those Tor whom franc
destined suppress the slave trade II the interior or
Africa! Great progress has already been accom-
plished; The unknown has been attacked from many
sides; and II those here present who have enriched
with such important discoveries would retrace
for as the principal points OF them their pose would
be powerful encouragement for ALL Among the Ques-
lions still to be examined the following have
cited:-l. Precise designation OF the bases Of opera
obtained the coast oil Zanzibar and
the mouth vi The Congo, either BY conventions with
the chiefs by purchases or leases 10 bc contracted
with individuals ,. Designation OF tho roads to DO
suc n IN
hosptabie, scientific and pachc1tory stations 10 be
organized as a means for abolishing slavery, for
establishing concord among the Chiefs for preserving
10 them just and disntcrested arbitratorA &c. The
creation after precise definition OF the work. of
ternaonal and central committee and OF national CON-
mttees Tor pursuing the execution OF the work. EACH
IN SO Tar as will be concerned TO explain the purpose
OF 1t 10 the pubic OF all countries, ana To make up
peal 70 the charitable sentiment which has never
been addressed IN vain"
riIE lSrsRsArloxAL COMMISSION
The suggestions o His Majesty met with the entire
support the gcographcrs assembled The first
ing Of the African Congress was held at the Palace
recently under the presidency the King asou. iorty
members of different nationalties. African travellers
and others who havo Distinguished themselves in geo.
graphical research bong present The representatives
attend, had arrived the evening before by special
train from Osiend. These gentlemen were Sir Rather
Sir Bartle Frcrs sir Harry vcrncy Captain verney,
Dr. Cameron, Sir John Kcnnaway, Sir l. +. Buxton,
Colonel Grant and Mr.. Mscknnon France
represented by Admiral Baron dc Ia Ronciere, Comte
do Lesscps ana 81 MaunoIr; Germany by Baron dc
Rchthoisn, DIR. Nachtral. DR.. Schweiniurtn and NJ.
Rohlfs; Austria BY Baron hoffman, Comle Zltchey, N.
Won Hocns,ctier and Lieutenant Lux; Italy by Com
manders Ne2ri anu Corrcnt; Russia by ii. de ScmenoE
The great question beoro the Congress Tho open
ing Africa 10 commerce and CIVILIZATION and the best
meas OF bringing this about The vast difficulties in
obtaining supplies experienced by those wuo have
pcnetrac cd into the interior o Africa the latest
tnc-expeditions having been than halt starved
many occasons-was considered and tho idea of
shing stations 10 aiu those VINO may De inclined
TO attempt 10 enter into intercourse ana trade with the
natives entertained.
DECISIONS OF THE CONGRESS-
"Ihe proposal OF tho King, says the Standard,
"that an international committee on the African ques
ton shall oe permanently established, woll sub
committee III every country in Europe has boen ac-
ceptcd, and will be acted upon Brussels, as tho scene
and the origin oil this Congress, which promises
be great success and the means OF bringing frsc-
dom 10 Central Africa, Will, doubtless, continue the
headquarters OF the movement Tho first step toward
bringing the sltings to practical conclusion has
been made to-day discussing the choice OF bases OF
operation upon tho coast OF Zanzibar. aud Bagamoyo,
just opposite the island, will hear, be the eastern
station That on the west coast the mouth OF the
Congo is not yet named. The next great point to
decide will be whether main trunk shall be opened up
soue gwen line across tho continent, from which
network Of communication shall be gradually spread.
or whether stations only should be established at
different scattered points already existing roads.
On this question ,here considerable
sections we're divided against the opinion OF those rep
rcsenting Russia Austria and Germany The hrss
in favor OF establishing trunk route, ana advo-
Gated survey TO select the most suitable
operations. stations would be established on this
Civilization and commerce were TO bc the first consd-
Grafton, then Russia, Austria and Germany
appeared desire that science should hold the most
prominent position In the work, and advised The
tabsh mcnt o independent stations Cameron's route
was named AS being the bsst 10 adopt On the iol-
loving the correspondent further reported that
THE coxGREss HAD ABRUPTLY TERnIyArED.
owing IN some degree TO the number OF members aud
the diversity OF opinion on many points rendering
difficult arrive ut any practical md detsrmlna
ton II wss however decided to form
association with The view OF exploring Africa and sup
pressing slavery. But programme was laid down Tor
the exploration OF the unknown parts Of Africa, limit
the region 10 be explored to the and west by
the TWO 10 tie south by the basin OF the Zambos
and 10 the NORTH by tho frontiers OF the Egyptian
territory and the still independent Soudan.
An international commission TO be
posed. consisting OF two members from each
country. with tho power OF nomn add tonal hon.
orary mompers; the sxccu tive committee VIII consist
OF president general secretary ana three four
bcrs. and there Will be national committees in each
country. According to the arrangements first made
the Congress was TO olo:t the international comm
which In Its turn, TO name the members of tho
exp ont oye