Daily Kennebec journal., 1877-11-16
From Stanley's Letter to the Herale. ]
TUF RAsIN OF THE CONGO.

llshed above the lower series, which consist oil OZ
important falls and rapids. though there are many
minor rapids do not think necessary to include
| in the list. remember when about stai ting IRON
| Nyangwe told Frank that hoped should find
| the cataracts in "lump.
| PoPULoUs TRADING REGION.
Once above the lower cataracts we have the
half of Africa before us with no Interruption and
uo, like the Lower Nile region, deserts OF sand,
but one vast populous plain, populous indeed
that, except Ugogo, know no part OF Africa 80
thicky inhabited The usual term village Is a
msnomer for most of the collections of dwellings
they are towns in some places two miles long,
with one or more broad streets between the rows
of neat, well built houses. The houses are supe-
iior to anything in East Central Africa. The ma
tives are different also. Every thought seems en-
crossed with trade and fairs aad markets are es-
tabshed everywhere.
LAND OF IVORY.
There has been a suspicion generally entertained
that IVORY must soon become "A curiosity but
can vouch that at least it will not be SO tor three
or four generations. This is the land OF ivory
"tempes, OF idol enclosures, where the common
utensils for domestic use are made OF ivory. lhe
people do not seem able to comprehend why any
one should take the trouble to pay for it when 1t
is so plentiful in each village.
VEGETABLE PRODUCTS.
The entire plain is also distinguished for its
groves of the oil palm. In Ukusu there are huge
forests of this tree. Almost everything that AT
rica produces is to be obtained in the Congo basin
cotton, india rubber, ground nuts, sesamum'
copa fred and whte), palm kernels aud palm oil,
ivory, &c. by means of the Congo journey TO
the gold and copper district Of katanga Is rem
dered, moreover, very easy.
NAvIGABLE WATERS.
The Congo river gives 10 miles below and S35
miles above the cataracts of navigable water,
| ,tb, Ia oft north and snuth
ing the basin, will give over 100 miles, and per-
haps much more. The greatest athuent, the Ike
| lembs is over 1000 miles in length; the Nkutu is
| over 700, the Aruwm must be over 800, while
there are four or five others which, by Their
| breadth, | should Judge to be navigabe for grea
distances. | would not advise any solitary ex.
plorer TO venture near the cannbal lands, unless
| he wishes trouble, but the influence of trade
once it is established on the equitable basis, will
| soon reduce these natives also to reason.
GO UP THE RIVER.
A trader ascending the river has a better chance
of lngratatng himself with the natives than an
explorer descending a river from region where
no trading native has dared to venture. As he
must halt a considerable time for business at each
capital his reputation fol- being just and good will
precede him aud bring him hosts of customers.
Indeed, the great difficulty will be to restrain their
inordnate love of barter. The islands on the
river i'll afford him safe camps and quiet retreats,
and it will be better for the trader and the native
to occupy island depots near the main land until
mutual confidence is thoroughly established.
A FUTURE POLITICAL QUESTION.
feel convinced that the Congo question will
become political question in time. AS yet how
ever, no European Power seems to have the right
of control. Portugal claims it because she dis
covered its mouth but the great Powers-Eng-
land, America and France-reiuse to recognize
her right, and express their determination, in
plain terms, TO dispute her assuming possession of
the river. If 1t were not that fear to damp any
interest you may have in Africa or in this mag
niicent river by the length of my letters could
show you very strong reasons why it would be a
polit c deed to settle this Congo question immedi-
ately.
HIGHWAY OF COMMERCE.
could prove to you that the possessor of the
Congo, despite the cataracts, would absorb to him
self the trade of the whole of the enormous basin
behind, which extends across thirteen degrees of
longitude and over fourteen degrees of latitude.
The Congo is and will be the grand highway of
commerce to West Central Africa. Ii so, why
should it be left to dispute TO who shall rule the
lower river aud its banks Why should it be left
to the mercy of the piratical Mussoongos | hear
that British men of-war have been castigating
those scoundrels lately with bombshells in more
determined manner than have been furnishing
the piratical cannbals on the eastern border of the
Great Basin and probably about the same period.
PERTINENT QUESTION.
But merely eastigating these people is not
enough; there should be vessels of war to prevent
such deeds as the destruction of European ships
| and the question is What Power shall be deputed
| IN the name of humanity to protect the youth of
commerce IN this little known world? An explor-
er Ia seldom called upon for the expression OF his
views, would venture on this ground OF
NEEDLE in the matter if | did not feel so very
strong an interest in Africa But will present
YOU with an example of what might come to pass
| If the question be not settled. number of Eu.
| ropean merchants interested 10 African commerce
| construct houses and stores and depots on the
| Congo, say on either bank, north or south. The
| natives, troubled with Indigestion or bad dreams
take ii into their heads that it won Id be fine
thing to rob the white people and burn theil
| dwellings, and depo,s and murder them. The
thing is done. pandemonum is reacted, the
| newspapers and public opinion hear the news, and
| expressions of "shame" on all the Powers inter.
esled are very loud and strong. British men-of
| war hurry up and lombard everybody, or, to use
an expressive though vulgar phrase they "knocb
things into cooked hat and perhaps tie pun.
lshment exceeds the offence, because the innoce n
would be involved in the destructive fury. Or, a:
the case might easily be- suppose the European
| merchants capable of defending themselves anC
thal by little strategy they capture the conspir
ators and doom them, one and ali, without mercy
TO death by chainiDg them in gangs, young ant
old aud drown them of hand in the deep water
Of the Congo What won Id be said of this Z
| do not say II has or has not been done. | merely
state what might happen. | ppt possible cas-,
before the enlightened reader. Would YOU b,
surprised to hear that it has been done Wha
ought then to be planned to prevent Mussolongo
| and'natives, with bad dreams and deranged di
geston, from stranghng lawful. legitimate ant
humane commerce. What ought to be done tt
prevent pitiless, vengeful merchants from placing
themselves under the ban of Christians.
HINT To ENGLAND.
Let England arrange with Portugal at one
to proclaim sovereignty over the Congo River Il
prevent the eensibies of the world beins
shocked some day when least expected. | have
binted 10 you a few strong reasons why the ques-
ton ought 10 be settled. | cou ld say vcfy mucl
more, but space viii not permit me, and wore
10 the wise is sufficient"