The Wilmingtonian., 1885-08-01
CONGO LAND.

whose true position as one of the greatest
pioneers of civilization has hardly yet been
recognized, has demonstrated that fact to
all those who are willing to read
Mr.. Stanley's new book on the Congo can
not, after perusal, be considered in the light
of an enhancing story Of travel and advent
ure in strange lands-it is more exactly a
treatise upon the commercial possibilities
Of the Dark Continent. In this sense it is
the subject of new Market for the barter
ing of the manufactures and productions
of the industrial peoples OF the world that
has ever been handed IN.
1t is most complete cataloguing of all
necessary information upon such matters.
A report, voluminous as it is, Of such a ma
| ture would necessarily be somewhat slow
! reading to those who read idly, simply for
| the novelty of excitement found in books Of
travel. But this disqualification founded on
the judgment of the more cursory reader, is
amply balanced by the commendaton of
his work that Mr.. Stanley gains from the
more intelligent commercial circles of the
world.
His book is written first fur commerce.
to enlighten business people in regard to
new fields where the manufacturing output
| eau be placed to advantage, and where
large per centage of advantage will repay
the merchants who may be moved to devote
| their attention in that direction.
1t should be remembered by our readers
that the Congo basin is large expanse of
territory, comprising two-thirds of a zone
of South Central Africa, north of the Brit
sh and Boer possessions, between which
and the Congo land there is still anot .er ex-
tensive belt of land as yet unexplored. The
immense tract of land is known as the Congo
basin, embracing 1,50s, 900 square miles, or
an expanse nearly half the entire area Of the
United States.
OF this area the new Free State of the
Congo covers ,065, 900 square miles Of terri
tory. There is dense population Of 81, 1885,
900 negroes inhabitng this immense extent
of land. There is the briskest demand for
cottons, aud still more perhaps for the tri-
fling and cheapest grades of ''notions''
in exchange for these. The Free Congo
State has the largest share of the popula.
tion, As, ,000, 600, and naturally in a relative
sense the more valuable to traders, as they
are settled upon the banks Of the numerou
. large tributarf,s Of the Congo and also upor
the main river itself, Upon this immensi
river system there is direct steam nayiga
tion of $3.50 milesl-and by passing
one rapid, this is increased to 6,0OC
milesl
The chief export would be palm oil.
| There are entire forests Of this precious
palm along the rivers. A single tree pro-
duces 500 TO 1000 nuts year. The guam
tity that might be collected is enormous
and considering the high premium at which
this most precious of oils stands in the
| worlds market, it promises to be a most
paying branch of trade.
The IndIa-rubber plant also is found indig-
enous in large quantities upon the islands of
the Congo, aggregating over 5000 square
miles of polifc bearing. Mr.. Stanley esti-
mates, and he gives the figures, that one
years crop would pay for Congo railway.
Among the natural products are daily seen
in the country markets, large cakes over
eighteen inches in diameter, of pure white
gum copal. T..
The castor oil plant is found also iii large
quantities. Every village contains its man
ufactured rolls of redwood powder. In one
locality Mr.. Slanly discovered stretch OF
go miles of unbrokon forest covered with
orchilla moss. The last cited are among
the most priced of commercial products in
the worlds market of whic this rich terri
tory affords unlimited supplies.
Mr., Stanley says 'it may be presumed
that there are about 100000 elephants, aud
about IL, 900 herds in the Congo basin, each
beast averaging 50 ponds of ivory which
would REPRESENT were the livery in the En-,
ropean market s25, 900, ,0OO!" Considering
ivory but fifth in rank among the CONNER.
} cial products of this region, it is supposed
that by the most trifling labor of the able
bedied warriors living on the banks of the
Congo, more Of either palm oil, rubber
gum, orchilla weed, or camwood could b
produced IN one gear than all the ivo,y IN h,
Congo basin is irorth!
Iron, copper and plumbagoa are abundant
gold also is found. Other vegetable pro
ducts are sugar cane, maize, bananas, ant
! plantains-while cassava or manioc root fur
nishes the staple farinaceous food. Rice ha'
been introduced, cotton grows wild and is
indigenous everywhere. In the Upper Con.
J go are found large herds Of cattle, goats ant
sheep.
AS an Indication of the temperature OF
June 9th, the range was from G3o, a. m
(Fahrenheit) and no at noon, to 60 agail
/ Mt 10 N m There is almost absniuteIv M