Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-12

Boston Truvcllcr.l
Less than ten years ago every map OF
Africa bore Il large blank space covering
the uorth-Cpntral portion of the continent.
This was terra incognita, and in popular
IMAGINATION it was vast desert, with,
perhaps. here and there regions of compar-
alive fertility, supporting tribes of fierce
and degraded saVages. In the latest
mats the white spot has disappeared, and
in its place we find the record of great
ranges of mountains, wttcrcOur,cS, new
races, European settlements, and scientific
stations. Three of the great rivers of the
world. the Nile the Xnnhr&i ANA the Con
20. nave their sources in the equatorial
plateau now Opened to civilization, and
the facilities thus afforded for navigation
are without parallel; for it is now sub
stautiallv demonstrated that these three
enormous water courses, CmptYing into
three different oceans, are connected by II
system of lakes and rivers Most of these
lalos and their tributaries are easily navi-
gable. and thus at no very distant period
welnay hear of small vessels travcrsing
Central Africa from ocean to ocean, or
making their way to the Mediterranean
sea The natural advantages of this ia
Vuted region are still further depicted aS
including Il soil so fertile that the vegeta-
ton and animal life are not surpassed even
by India. The plateau, moreover, is dense
IL uupulated 10y what are described as
pc&ccful and innocent tribes who are good
ugriculturists and traders. 1t is this rich
territory which the International African
Association has sought to- develop. The
association was originally Il private or
ganiIatiun, with King Leopold of Belgium
at US head and had for its original object
the scientific exploration of the Congo ba-
sin and the abolition of the slave trade,
through which, il is estimated, nearly half
4 mllOn people perish every year But
the enterprise grew until the projectors
saw that they had in their hands nothing
less than the founding of an empire. King
Leopold has spent 10000, 900 francs, or half
VI his private fortune, i'll fostering the en-
terpriSe and thus far onlya beginning has
been made. Now, through the lead of
Germany, the association has become truly
International. and there will he Il field for
the Investment of capital from all coun-
tries. The beginning made is of no slight
magnitude Nearly POO agents of the as
Sucatun are exploring the country They
have purchased immense territories, have
made commercial treaties with the native
chiefs. have founded cities, and have es-
tHbliShed a chain of stations, displaying
The blue flag and golden star, across the
entire continent, from coast to coast. The
celebrated explorer, Ernest Won HeSSe-
Wartegg, says of the present outlook
Il find no other instance of similar activ-
ity. unless that of the settlers of Kansas
and Texas where waste territory has been
converted intofertile and civilized States
within a score OF years. In 1876 the entire
coast from the Portuguese colony of Angola
to the French colony of GabOOn was little
more than desert uninhabited and appa
rcntly worthless, with the exception OF
two Portuguese settlements, MOlembO and
Cahnda. situated north of the Congo
mouth. and two other settlements south
of II. Ambriz and AmbriSette on the Con
20 itself. Since them however, many set
Elements have sprung up along the river
and the coast surveying and exploring
parties have traverSed the country in every
direction. principally. however, along the
upper Congo and the Qullu, IL small but
naVigable river north of the Congo, at tn,
month of which the new city of Rudolf
Staht has been founded This river viii
most likely become the main channel OF
she future Congo trade, and Its mouth the
principal port of the new Congo land
Along the Quillu the stations BeaudOl
Vile. phillippcVillC, Stetanie and Frank
Willie have been established but the head
quarters of the association are at present
1T Nivi below the falls of Jellala, from
Whrr" they will he soon transferred Il
I.rupoldsvillc, the new Congo capital OF
Stanley Pool. From l.eopoldsville as fa
ns stanley Falls. Il distance of about Ion
mics, the entire country Is ut present il
lnt hands of the association. New stations
are continually established, eight steam
"r- are already plying between them ant
soon the number will be augmented t.
twelve. New roads are being surveyed AM
built around the falls and rapids ney
railways will soon be established and tn
iron horse is, indeed already introduce,
IN Central Africa. for the city Of Nivi
connected by railroad with the river por
IF the same name But Herr Won IleSsc
W&Itcgg does not regard the immedlat
outlook as one of unmitigdted sunshine
The lew whites scattered over the Cong
district are brave and intelligent men, bu
1hey are devoted entirely to scientific II
searches. Something 3 aceded like tn
historical trading companies to develop tn
resources of Central Africa, and undo
German management the Information;
African Association will doubtless tax
that form.
THE INArGURATION BALL.