Smyrna times., 1879-08-27

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA.-We have all been pain
fully aware in this country for the last twenty years
of the existence of the African element among uii
and the important factor this element has played il
our social and national affairs. The results of thu
war have simply changed the relative position, while
the substantial fact remains unchanged. Not only i'll
this country but Europe, from another stand point,
has its eye the dark continent" and to-day the
adventurous wise of the west are turning their
attention to the South continent for discoveries
to enrich science and commerce. The Exodus
that is now seriously disturbing our Southern
States and from appearances simply the beginning of
what likely to be mighty disturbance in its ioca
and political results doubtless part ofthe unknown
programme of the future. IF the prophecies of the
scriptures true, Africa is to be redeemed, and as
the Hebrews in Egypt led out Of darkness and
bondage by leaders of their own kindred, so may
Africa by her own sons, fitted and prepared by the
civilization of America and Europe These local and
political disturbances have portent deeper in sig
nifcanee than the events of the hour, and in the
fullness of time per force of circumstances Africa
NAV become the promised land of its scattered sons
in search of land of rest and peace and safety. The
Baltimore Sun thus Interestingly discusses the position
of Africa to-day:
The reported attempts at secession of certain tribes
which are claimed to owe allegiance to Liberia and
their adhesion to Great Britain calls attention to the
fact of the deep interest which all the nations of the
CIVILIZED world Just now feel in the great neglected
clark continent" of Africa. Although Commodore
Shufeldt in command of the TTcOnderogd, now on a
rowing commission in African waters, has in his
report to the Navy Department expressed the opinion
that the proposed opening up Of Africa is g" deceit
and deluslon," the array of circumstances against
such view is at least worthy of consideration. This
year Africa literally swarms with explorers and ex-
plorng parties while the nations which have already
and those not established there seeking pointof
entrance. The explorers now of all classes,
sent England France, Germany Belgium, Portugal,
Italy Egypt and the United States. Major De Serpa-
Pinto Portuguese military service, officer of
experience and OF culture. has just successfully
completed two years walk across the continent,
from Bonguela to Natal, which will compare with
anything done by Livingstone Cameron Stanley.
He explored the sources of several of the chief rivers
in that part OF Africa, and determined their courses
and volume. The geographical and hydrographical
results of the Pinto expedition are important as con-
meeting the uncompleted work of Livingstone with
fhat of Stanley and Cameron. Major Pinto discovered
race of white Africans, the probable kinsfolk of
the Hottentots From the north the French push
ing their scientific expeditions down the Sahara,
taking in all the great cases. always aiming at finding
the best routes to Ilmouctoo ana the N1gar On the
west coast they exploring eastward from Senegal
and the GaboOn, their object being to connect Sene-
gambia with Algeria by overland routes. They are
thoroughly examining the basin of the Upper Niger
and also feeling their way southwark to the Congo.
The country, still unknown, between the Shari and
the Congo attracts their particular attention. The
German African Society Of Berlin, the same which
patronzed the great explorer Henry Barh, has equip
ped several expeditions this year and the last DR..
Gerhard Bohfe, well-known traveller and geogra-
pher left Trpoli last December at the head Of quite
party 10 explore the Oases Of the Sahara of which
so little is known When last heard from he was on
his way to Kufarah, which no European has ever
visited. He too, will endeavor 10 reach the great
Congo river at the point of its most norherly trend
Commodore Shufeldt has been engaged in taking
soundings in the mouth of the Congo and will 90 uS
the river as far as the first falls Dr. Buchner also
sent out by the Berlin Society, has started from St
Paul de Loanda to make further Explorations on the
river. He will try to penetrate to the capital
Stanley's Mwata Yanvo. and go thence by the upper
Lualaba to the town of Nyangwe. Stanley himself il
i'll Africa somewhere at the head of an expedition
which the objects are not known but IS supposed
that he seeks to establish trading points either the
Zambesi or the Lualaba. The Zembesi, it is said
offers easy route for traders to the Lake Nyassa
and large deposits of coal known to exist on the
borders of the lake. The Belgian and Italian expedi
tiOns crossing from Zanzibar westward have so fal
not accomplished much but French party unde
the Able DebaiZe has reached Tanganyika established
station there, and is pushing for the Congo. Th'
Engllsh geographical expedition from Zanzibar
When Iust lost us leader Keith Johnstone set out
explord the unknown tracts between Lakes Nyassi
and Tangany1ka, so as to mark out a trade route L
the former lake. Missionaries have made permanen
Establishment at Ujiji and at Rubaga the capital o
King Mtesa's kingdom of Uganda, (having reached
that latter place by way of the Upper NileD and
Missionaries and the officers of Gordon Pasha ar
searching out every unknown spot in the regions G
the White Nile and Eastern Soudan, and. in short tn
machinery for the thorough and effective exploration
of all the unknown parts of Africa is in full and
cessful operation. It is quite apparent that there
something else besides zeal for geographical know
edge behind all of these concerted attempts at e2
plOration, in which governments take decided
more active interest than individuals. The industria
world, in fact wants new Outes for production neV
avenues OF trade and governments equally want ne,
outlets for population, new room for colonies. Tn
impetus to polar exploration was the desire to find
short route TO India. The impetus TO African explorI
tiOn is the desire of OverwOrked and overpeople
communities for new people to trade with and ne
areas of virgin soil to occupy 1t may happen wit
Africa as it happened with this continent in the for
part of the sixteenth century. The precious meta
may be found in Africa as they were found in MexiC
and Peru. as they were in California and Australi
and then will follow q rush of population such
never before was witnessed. If gold should be di
covered Oh the Congo or the Lualaba to-day, with
many hundreds of thousands of people, particular
in Europe, out of work or employed in unremuner
tive labor, the invasion, colonization and cvilizir
of Africa would be accomplished with surprisiI
rapidity That gold will be found in paying quani
ties would seem hardly to be doubted 1t has indeC
been staple product of the country from time in
memorial, Just as much as ivory and oil and it ms
be only question of how long" before the di
covery is made of rich placers or profitable quar-
deposits