Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-06-20
STANLEY IN AFRICA.
Some Of the Results Of his Latest lex
pcdltlOn.

The most important and interesting inter-
view yet published concerning Mr.. Stanley
and his work is that which appeared in
Tuesdays New York Herald. Capt Carlo
Braconuier has been Mr.. Stanley's leuten-
ant in Africa for nearly four years, and has
necessarily acquired anintimate acquaintance
with him and with the country he has open
ed to European enterprise. He reports that
Mr.. Stanley is sick and that he will shortly
give up his command His successor will
be Sir Francis Winton. Stanley has already
undergone more than a dozen ordinary
Europeans could stand, and continue alive
The average life Of a European in that
country is two years.
AS regards commercial prospects on the
Congo, Capt. Braconnier is not at all san
gulne. He says that above Stanley pool
even boats of very light draught are likely
to run aground, and from there to the equa-
tor "the river seems hopeless confusion OF
sandbanks, rocks islands and rapids" The
native products, too, have not come up to
the expectations that were formed Ivory
is scarce, and only reaches the Congo after a
long journey through many intermediate
hands. OF the precious metals there is
none. Good crops Of mllet, maize, manic
ca, pineapples, bananas end lemons are
raised, and it may be possible, after clearing
the ground, to raise peanuts in plenty, and
also wheat and other European grain.
Geographically, the expedition has been
great success. A line of stations is now es.
| tablishcd more than halfway across the con.
tine NJ and 1t is the desire of the Association
to extend this all the way to Zanzibar II
they can succeed in making q station al
| Nyangwe, this will be comparatively easy
That is the most importont commercial Cen
tire in this part of Africa. The Arabs have
there great slave depot, and it is altogether
possible that they may object to having
station founded by Europeans. From Ny
angwe the journey is a short one to Lake
| Tanganyika, on which steamer now plies
and from Ujiji, on its eastern shore, Zinz
bar, the route is familiar one, already trav-
clled by many Europeans,
Perhaps the most interesting part of Cap.
Braconnieis talk is that relating to Gen
Gordon and the possibility Of rcscuing him
from the Congo. The route is not so dih
cult as might be imagined. Between one
and two degrees north of the equator, a
stream called the Aruhimi, or Aruwini, flows
into the Congo from the northeast. This
stream has been explored far enough t. es
establish its identity with the Ouele, OF
Welle, mentioned by Schwcinfurth anC
other explorers From the head waters OF
the Wcllc to those of the Pahrcl Ghazal al
afllucnt of the White Me, Is only shor
distance over the great watershed o
Africa in the Nyam-nyam country
and from there to Khartoum il is plain sail
ing-barring the Mahdi and his warriors
Capt Braconnier thinks that an expedition
fitted out as if for trading could easily get a
far rs the Bahr; &c, dha2al, andperhaps to KhaI
toum itself. 1t would take two months, an
if the resources IF the InternatiolUl As'o
cation were utilized, would cost oaly Sl4
900 IN the river and $4,000 TO Kharonn
so feasible is this plan to his owa mine
that he is willing 10 lead such an expedite
himself. Over Cord IN himsef the cap ii
is enthusiastic, IA every one must Ne WI
, knows that remarkable m an; aad he think
that no means of rcscuiug him shOlld h. /"
untried