The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-02

and gcographcrs convokcd by King LEO
PoLD of Belgium In September Of last year
II Ia satisfactory to learn that the inter-
national organization then devised has
been effected, and that the systematic
study Of central Africa may be expected 10
begin forthwith.
Ii will be remembered that n cardinal fca-
ture Of the plan was the establishment OF
subcommittee In the several countries OF
Europe and In America, to whom the busi-
ness OF arousing public interest and collect
ing funds should he committed According
10 the reports which have reached us, this
scheme has been thoroughly carried out.
In Germany. for instance. national board
has been formed, whose President is the
Prince OF REuss. In England the African
exploration fund has been placed under the
patronage Of the Prince of WALES. In Por-
tugal, whose harbors in Mozambique and on
the Congo coast would be the natural out
let's of central African commerce, a sub-com-
mittce has been constituted by the joint
efforts Of the Lisbon Geographical Society
and OF the Ministry Of the Colonies. An i'm
portant role In the undertaking seems re-
served for the Netherlands, whose children
have successfully founded those two in
land republics lately annexed to the Cape
Colony, and which are destined 10 form rings
in the chain % civilized posts to be one day
established from Cairo and Khartoum TO the
extremity Of Southern Africa. At the head
Of the Dutch committee IL Prince HENRY Of
the Netherlands. The Austrian board is pre-
sided over by Baron HOFFMAN,, Minister
of Finances, and the Italian committee
is headed by the heir to the crown.
The operations Of the French com
mittec have been guided by Admiral
la RoNCIERE LIE NoURY, who has had
the hearty cooperation OF the Paris Geo
graphical Society. Even In Spain an African
exploration society has been founded, under
the Presidency OF the King. In short,
almost every sovereign house in Europe
has given the support Of its name to
the work projected at Brussels, and even the
Sultan of Zanzibar hae written To King LEO
POLD to promise cooperation. From the
Swiss Confederation we learn that the Prcsi-
dent Of the Geneva Geographical Society
has got together committee, and we know
that Judge DAILY has undertaken the forma-
tlon Of an American board, which, we trust,
will take measures to secure worthy con-
trihution TO the international exploration
fund. We may here mention that the sum
collected in Belgium so long ago as last
March--and it is stated to bee rapidly in
creasing-was large enough to yield an an
nual revenue Of s25 goo, an amount quite adc-
| quate to the outfit Of one expedition n year
As regards prestige and resources, this
| enterprise, whose organization may now be
regarded as well-nigh complete, is obviously
without parallel in the history Of explora-
Ion al i.l..lxt IN
others in the breadth and beneicence OF its
design. The aim is not the conquest Of
central Africa to the profit Of a single State,
but the introduction Of peace and com
mcrce, the gradual absorption Of this vast
region in the current Of civilization for the
| good Of the human race. This purpose will
be clearly marked in the character and mis-
sion Of the stations which will speedily be
| founded. Anything like military aspect
will be Stunned by the expeditions The ex-
| ploring parties are 10 be small, headed, per-
| haps, by some one accustomed to command,
| "a naval officer for instance, but including MS
| important constituents a naturalist, n sur
| gcon, and number Of skilled artisans
such as carpenters a..d blacksmths. Those
who think the creation OF such posts i'm
| practicable are reminded that the Catho-
| lie mission Of GOndokoro was maintained
| in the heart Of Africa, and only displaced TO
escape the mortality caused by fevers in
| that locality. Moreover according 10 recent
| adviccs, the Free Church OF Scotland has
| succeeded in founding station OF this kind,
| called Livingstoniana, on the shores Of
| Lake Nyassa, from which flows one Of the
| aluents of the Zambcsi. This expedition
was commanded by lieutenant in the Brit
| ish navy, and embraced among its members
II carpenter, an engineer, q weaver, and three
agricultural laborcrs, besides the two mis-
ronares. The record Of their experience
will he the next book Of interest on central
Africa We may add that the station Of
Momhasa, on the Zanzibar coast, is organ
lied ON the same plan and the expedition
sent out by the British Missionary Soclct Y
to establish a post between the lakes Veto
ria and Albert is similarly constituted.
Another point of difference deserves attcn-
tion. The stations founded by the intcrna-
| tiOnal conference cannot engage in religious
propaganda, because their expenses Will be
betrayed by subscribers Of all forms OF
faith. They will be simply posts Of refuge
scientific research, and trade, preserving
in all their various relations an eX-
clusiNcly lay character. They will be-
conspicuously useful as bases Of opera
ton for travellers. The gain Will be
incalculable il III future the explorers
wants can he supplied, not at Bngamoyo, ol
Saint Paul de Loanda, but on the threshold
Of the unknown region, at NyangwG ol
Till, for instance. The prvatons and
sunerlngs Of every kind which NAcHrIGAL
LIVINGSTONE, GRANT and CAMERON expert
cnccd will cease in large measure to Grip
pie their SUCCESSORS. The commanders o
the international posts, being selected with
regard to scientific requirement, vii
doubtless, within reasonable time, obtnir
knowledge of the country's resources
They would soon be In position to make
known the native staples adapted for cN
port and TO serve as guides to exploration
Meanwhile, the works executed by European
artisans under the eyes OF the natives
should tend to initiate the latter into the
arts and needs Of civilization. Finally, W.
may mention the line which has beer