The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-23
EXPLOITATION IN WESTERN AFRICA.
Hstuvn or the Meat succcssfal az Recent
Preach Exploring 1szneditioas.



NM. Savargnnn dc Bruzza and DIR. Ballay
have Just returned to Paris. after three years
hard work IN the exploration Of the river Ogowe.
IN Western htricn The results of the pro-
lOnRed expedition HrD so important that tho
Paris Geographical Society resolved to present
NJ De Brngva with ts " great gold medal for
by admiral La Roncierc 10 Nourry The cx-
petition, Of which Lieut.. de Brazza was tns
Marche. who In company with the late Marquis
de COmpiegnc. had already done much to- adj
vance our knowledge of the ORnwe. NJ. Marcho
had, however. on account OF his health tngivc
up his work and return IN France. NM. de
Brazzal and Ballav also suffered much from
fever at frat, aud wero indeed suffering when
trcme limit OF the European factories, to com
menco tho real WORK Of their campaign. For
escort they had q dozen Laptots, Indigenous
soldiers from the French colony Of senegal.
The explorers met with many difficulties and
discouragements from the hostility, and Gu
pidity OF the natives. and In the end IL became
almost n regular series Of battles. The course
OF the Ogow6 may be divided into three nearly
equal .paris-the upper. tho middle. and the low
er. The middle follows an almost straight east
and west course just south OF the equator; the
two others incline about ~ degree and hiuf to.
ward the sOuth--thc one toward It's source. the
other toward its mouth. Tho merchandise and
baggage OF the explorers could only bo carried
in canoes and by the arms OF tho natives, who
made terrible emotions from the expedition.
which WINS almost entirely in their power. The
the upper s " course u Of the 0 oowG. NJ de Braz
penetrated into the country OF the Fans. those
ilnc cannibals whose praises are sung by Bur
ton. with whom he WIS able to enter into
friendly relations and he succec led In reaching
Dune, n position considerably advanced on tho
upper course OF the river NJ. lie Brnzzn suffered
in this journey and on his return had to let his
companions advance TO Dunno without him he
was only able to reion them in April, 1877.
almost stopped by the Adumas. who, on the pre-
text that the whites had introduced the small
pox. wanted to muct the expedition OF the
greater part OF its baggage. II was only by q
ruse that the explorers were able to get out OF
the clutches OF the Adumas. and after many
dangers from tho numerous rapids tho party
found themselves together again nj the fall Of
Poubara. Above this the ORow6 becomes an
insignificant stream. Here the exploration
might have ended. rs one object of the oxpcdi-
of the question ms 10 whether the OgowG rose in
any great interior lake; It was clrar 1t dd not.
However. after u few days rest the explorers.
in spite OF their brokcn-down condition ana the
exhaustion of their resources. left the basin OF
the OgowG in March. 1878. 10 penetrate still fur
Their into the interior. 30 badly did the natives
treat them mere that they were compsl9d 70 ouy
four slaves to carry the baggage Under these
circumstances they traversed successfully tho
territories OF the Ondumbo, the Umbete ana
the Batek6 suffering greatly 10y tue way from
both hunger aud thirst. for the country was
devastated by famine. A stream, the NGanlbO,
running east led the explorers To an important
river. the Alma. which they lave mule known
10 geography for the first time. This river.
about 800 feet wide and 10 feet deep. to all ap-
pcarancc Is an ailluent OF the Congo.
IN attempting 10 d'sccndthls river, inc french
explorers had Ia run the gauntlet between banks
lined with hostile s4vagss and like Stanley.
were at last compelled to fire in self-delence.
Great villages were seem fl led with enemies.
who finally attacked the explorers with canoes
filled with men armed with guns. Theyquittcd
the river and marched northward. crossing
many wntercourees Rowing eastward. They
suffered so much from hunger that the eXpedi-
ton had TO be divided. Dr. Ballay and ono OF
the attendants being sent back 70 the Ogowt.
NJ. de Brazza went some distance further 70 the
northward. when he also from hunger and suf-
icring WIS compelled 10 retreat. He rgjoined
his companions in September. and on Now 30
the whole party reached the French settlement
a. the Gaboon. De Braz2a and Ballay reached
Paris only a few days ago and thus has ended
one of the most successful OF recent French cN-
ploring expeditions. II has added Il cousidcra-
BILE region hitherto unknown 10 our maps. and
helped not little TO solve the perplcXing prob
lem Of African hydrography. The gold medal
presented on Saturday is well deserved.