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 /, 1s76

entinc, geographical, social and unsociaL We have
had the Geographical Congress- held at Brussels with
an Interesting speech by His Majesty the King OF the
Begians; the annual Congress OF the British Assoca
tion. held this year al Glasgow the Congress Of the
Orienalss at ST Petersburg, and goodly number OF
gatherings about which the world TO
little or nothing. The least successful OF
the three great gatherings mentioned has been that
OF the British Association. The Aorniag Post says
the general impression that has OF tho
dullest congresses OF the association record Cap
tain Cameron must have been under some abnormal
fuence other when he addressed the Geographical
Section; for we cannot imagine that this daring trav
elicr knows the natives oil Africa better than to
assert that lone daai with them as gentlemen
with gentlemen in ORDER TO got along with them.
OF course 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 Review, whose EDITORS seated
In their cushioned chairs imagine that they
plorc and subjugate the rude savage by the
simple exercise OF their own irresistible seductive
suavity OF manner II would be just generous TO
say that when Cameron reached the LuaaDa at Nyan-
give and turned away from II without oven trying 10
descend u on . raft, hc proved himself no longer
worthy Of tine name Of explorer. He preferred TO
rudgc foot 8 900 miles and to fail when
within his grasp.
rnE BRUSSELS GEOGRAPHICAL CONGRESS-
The idea Of founding Belgian colony IL distant
part OF the world 10 order 10 advance tho interests OF
commerce and industry was always fav0re wish OF
Leopold H. Of Belgium. As Crown Prince he pub
ished pamphlet under the title OF "Le Complement
dc pEuvre 10 1885" IN which he explained various
plans. Some years aftcrward. whom ho had become
King he sent nj his own expense engineer ~ Eiain,
suosequeniiy the private secretary u the emperor
the Pacific Ocean, in the hope oi andng there some
happy spot which, uAoccupied BY any other nation,
mig ht serve the Belgian purpose OF colonzston. At
present tho King OF the Bcgians has resumed this
plan aud the proposal IS now 10 establish colony IN
southern Africa, which 20 be joined penal
Element tho French model Friendly relations have
been established Tor the purpose with Pretoria the
capital OF tho Transvaal kepubc, and Il is hoped that
" some thousands OF Belgians avail themselves immo-
datsy Of this new opportunity for emigratng the plan
will DO realized
THE KINGS ADDRESS.
The King OF the Bclgans has, however. higher aims
than the nero forming Of penal settlement IN Africa
ral Africa and 10 take steps for tho suppression or the
slave trade In his opening address the King said:
IL have arrived at the belief that It might be
tent tor you 10 come and discuss anu determine
common, with the authority belonging to you, tho
ways 10 followed AMI the means be employed Tor
planting dehnitivey the standard OF CIVILIZATION
soil OF Central Africa, and an agreement az
10 what has 10 be done 10 interest the public
noble enterprise and to induce 1t contribute toward
H. For, gentlemen, In works of this kind IL s the
concurrence OF numbers which gives success
II - the sympathy Of the masses which must
be solicited obtained In TACT, what resources
could not be disposed OF II all those ior whom
is nothing little consented to hanu Il the fund
Africa! Great progress has already been accom-
piIshed; the unknown has been attacked IRON many
sides; and n those here present who have enriched
with SUCH important discoveries would
for the principal points OF them their expose would
be powerful encouragement for all Among the ques
lions still 10 be examined the following have
cited:-l. Precise ignaion OF the bases opera
obtained The coast OF Zanzibar and
the mouth OF The Congo, either BY conventions with
the chiefs or by purchases or leases 10 DO
with individuals 2. Designation Of tho roads to DO
opened succcssively toward the interior and OF The
hf-n hin md fnPu tnf, tn he
organized means for abolshIng slavery for
establishing concord among the chiefs, for preserving
to them Just and disintcresled arbitratorA &c The
creation after precise definition OF the work. of in-
ternaona and ccntrui committee and OF national
mttees ior pursuing the execution OF me work. each,
IN SO lar as Will be conccrned to explain the purpose
oil 10 the pubic OF all countries, make up
peal 10 the charitable sentiment which has mover
TnE IxrsRSArioSAL COMMISSION.
The suggestions OF His Majesty mot With the entire
support Vi the geographcrs assembled The first
ing Of the African Congress was held a, the Palace
recently under the presidency OF the King torty
members Of different nationaties- African travellers
others who havo distinguished themselves in geo.
graphical research being present The representatives
Of England, who had been invited by HIS Majesty 10
attend, had arrived the evening before by special
train from Osend These gentlemen were Sir Rather
ford Alcock, Sir H. Rawlinson Admiral Sir l. Heath,
S'r sar.ls frcrs, slr harry nsrney captain vsrney'
Colonel Grant and Mr. MaCknnon. France
represented by Admiral Baron dc Ia Roncere, Contc
dc Lessops ana 81. Maunoir; Germany by Baron do
Rchthoisn, DR.. Nachtlgai. Dr. Schwcniurth and NJ.
Rohils; Austria BY Baron Hoffman, Comte Zitchey N.
manaers Nesr, ana corren.i Russia BY H. Dc semsno.
The great question before the Congress Tho OPEN
ing OF Africa TO commerce and civilization and the best
meas OF bringing this about. The vast difficulties in
obtaining supplies experienced by those wuo have
pcnetrn cd into the interior oil Africa cp the latest
tmc-expeditions having been more than halt starved
on many occasions-was considered, and tho idea of
estab shng stations TO aid those who may be inclined
10 attempt 70 enter into intercourse and trade with the
natives entertained.
DECISIONS THE CONGRESS-.
"The proposal oil tho King says the Standard,
"that an international committee on the African ques-
tion shall Ne permanently established wcll sub
committee Ia every country in Europe, has boen
cepted, and will be acted upon. Brussels us tho scene
and the origin OF this Congress, which promises
bo u great success aud the means OF bringing irsc-
dom 10 Central Africa, will doubtless, continue tho
headquarters OF the movement The first step toward
bringing the sttings to some practical conclusion has
been made to-day IN discussing the choice OF bases of
operation upon the coast OF Zanzibar; aud
just opposite the island will, hear, be the eastern
station. That the coast, near the mouth OF tho
decide will be whether main trunk shall be opened up
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 on already existing roads
On this question there was considerable
diversity OF opinion. the French anu English
sections were divided against the opinion OF those rev.
rcsenting Russia, Austria and Germany. The first
was IN favor OF establishing trunk route, and advo
Gated survey TO select the most suitable
operations. stations would be established thus
route, the principal being at Ayangore and Tyyi
CiVzaoh anu cutnmertc were 10 Oo tAo nrst consld-
Grafton. then science Russia Austria and Germany
appeared TO desire that science should hold the
prominent position IN the work, and advised the
tablishmcnt oil Independent stations. Camerons
was named AS Deing the best 10 adopt" On the fol-
lowing day the correspondent further reported that
THE CONGRESS HAD ABRUPTLY TERMyArED.
owing IN scme degree 10 the number OF members aud
the diversity OF opinion on many points rendering
difficult 10 arrive at any practical and detsrnna-
ton IL was, however, decided to
association, wish The view Of exploring Africa sup
pressing slavery. But programme was laid down
q fpu al no nj cnf Hf,tt
ing the region be explored to the and by
the TO the south by the basin OF Zambcsi
and the NORTH BY tho frontiers Of new Egyptian
tsrrtory and the still independent aoudan.
An international commission TO be COM
posed. consisting oil two members from each
country, with tho power OF ing tional hon.
orary members; the tive committee viii consist
OF president general secretary three four mem.
bcrs and there VIII be national committees each
country According to the arrangements AT first ado
Congress oest the lssion.
which was in its turn, to name The members of the