Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-24
STANLEY ON THE CONGO.
The Present Condition and Future of
the Great Empire.

Inc HfesenC condition and Future of
the Great Empire.
I have had a long and interesting inter
view with Mr.. Stanley, says a CORES
pondent of the London Times, during
which he told me much concerning his
work on the Congo, and expressed his
opinion pretty freely as to the position of
| affairs in Africa generally and the proba-
bic future development Of a continent for
which he has done so much. Mr. Stanley
is looking well, and, indeed, told me his
health is excellent. l asked Mr.. Stanley
whether there was any hope whatever of
developing agriculture along the river
whether, for example, it would ever be
possible for white men to settle there al
planters or farmers. He is confident that
as an agricultural field the Upper Congo
region especially is capable of practically
unlimited development, and this, ii may he
remembered, is the opinion Of Mr.. john
ston. Mr.. Stanley maintains that, il only
regular and reasonably rapid transit could
be assured, 1t would amply repay small
agricultural capitalists to take up a few
hundred acres Of land in the rich valleys
or old lake bottoms, and devote themselves
to cereal cultivation. For rice especially
the soil is admirably adapted. He told
me Of one instance of an Arab who has
settled in the country between the STAN
ley Falls and Nyangwe since Mr.. STAN
ley's visit in 1877, aud who raises far more
rice than Is capable of maintaining his
1920 slaves. And, indeed, it would seem
that the Arabs are rapidly stepping in
and occupying al the best localities. To
this there would be no objection, only,
unhappily, they devote themselves mainly
to slaYe-tradiug, the Industrial develop
ment Of the country being with them
very secondary affair.
Mr.. Stanley scouts the idea that Africa
IS the most hopeless and barren of the
continents, and he has seen a good deal
of il. The Congo region, at least, he
maintains, is one of the most fertile on
the globe. We are usually told by those
who take pessimistic view of Africa
that ivory, gum and oil are the only pro-
ducts OF any consequence, and that the
first will be exhausted in a few years.
But Mr.. Stanley tells me that ivory will
last for generations yet; that gum and
oil alone give an ample field for trade.
On returning to England this time he
came IN steamer that touched at about
fifty places on the west coast, among
others at Old Calabar. There he found
that oil was being shipped at the rate of
500 tons week, and all this obtained
from stretch of country only 10 miles in
extent. All along the 1000 miles of the
Middle and Upper Congo the banks are
crowded with Oil-palms, and, said he,
divide that 200 by 49, and it will give
you some idea of what you may expect
the Congo to produce. Not only so, but
the country abounds In the wild coffee
plant, the berries of which, even in it's
uncultiVated state, produce an excellent
beverage. The orcbilIa plant is equally
abundant, and both the native and white
settlers have extensive banana planta-
tions. Not only bananas but oranges
and other fruits have been cultivated with
complete success; so that Mr.. Stanley
considers himself perfectly justified in
maintaining that the, native products
themselves are varied and ineXhaustiole.
and that the country is capable of unlim-
tied agricultural development. At all
the stations substantial and cOmmodiOus
buildings have been erected. At Stanley
Pool there is a spacious terrace covered
with buildings, with acres of fOurishIng
gardens around. AS to the extension of
the operations of the association beyond
Stanley Falls, Mr.. Stanley cannot speak
with certainty. Whether by the assOcIa-
ton or by some other agency, he is GER
tainly of opinion that such extension
should be made; the further the better,
even up to Lake BangweOlo. He has dis
covered the mouths Of many new rivers
them he sailed many miles Several of
them he found free from Instructions for
200 or 800 miles, and he would advocate
the planting of stations on these tribu-
taries. The catardcts that exist on these
southern tributaries would present no
difficulties to the native canoes, which
would soon find their way TO the white
market.
Mr. Stanley and the missionaries on the
Congo seem to be on the hest of terms,
and there can be little doubt that these
have been greatly indebted to him for
their success. He quite approves OF mis-
siOnaTy effort when carried ON in a prac-
tical, rational and accommodating spirit;
and he would rejoice to see mission sta
lions planted all along the banks of the
river. He speaks well of the conduct of
the missionaries at present at work. and,
from what he tells me, they seem to be
rapidly extending their operations to the
limits of the associations territory.
Mr.. Stanley gave me many amusing and
graphic pictures of his dealings with the
natives and the missionaries, in all of
which one could not but be struck with
his tact and patience. Most interesting
of all, perhaps, was the scene at the
mouth of the Aruw imi, where, in 1877, he
had great naval battle. The natives
there were extremely suspicious at first,
and gave violent demonstrations Of hos
tility, but, by perfect GOODNESS and pa
thence, they were overcome, though it
took couple of days to convince them of
the triendliness of the expedition, and
even then they manifested the greatest
reluctance to tell Mr.. Stanley anything
about the upper river. Altogether, Mr..
Stanley expresses unbounded hope
in the future of the Congo
and of Africa generally, if only
the natives be treated with proper tact.
This, however, is absolutely essential;
without their good will and active sup
port, very little can be done. Mr.. Stanley
is unable to say whether he will be at
liberty to give to the world an account Of
his varied experiences during the past
six years; that will depend upon the in
terview to which he proceeds probably
tomorrow.
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