The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-13
THE FIELD OF LITERATURE.
"The Congo, and the Founding of Its Free


american pride III the Achievements OF an
American explorer if nothing else, would insure
large sale of Henry NJ Stanley's latest and
greatest work. His Through the Dark Cont
nent" and ''Coomassie and Magdalena" were re-
ceived with every evidence of interest, and won
for Mr. Stanley wide fame as an intrepid ex-
plorer. The present work, however, consisting
of two fine octave volumes Il $50 PIP, with over
leo illustrations and maps) is more finished and
altogether more valuable The experience of
his first voyage of exploration made as it was
under the direction of the London Telegraph, and
New York Herald, fitted him better for his sec
ond and more extended visit, although the latter
was made under the patronage of Leopold H.
King of the Belgians, his preface seems directed
more to the people of England, the evident pur-
pose being to enlist British capital in developing
the region of the Congo To King Leopold,
however, must be given the credit
of this second expedition, as it
was be who, in 1873, sent commissioners to meet
Stanley at Marseilles on his return from Africa.
In his preface the author makes a strong pre-
sentation of his case, and reveals in few para
graphs some of the reasons that impel him to
appeal TO the civilized world to go to the aid of the
people along the Congo, in order to reap the ad-
vantages of an extended and valuable trade. He
says:
THE world has heard enough of old wives
tales of 'horrid climate, of Quixotism,' and all
such fancies Of timorous and feeble minds Hun
dreds OF raw European youths have been
launched into the heart of the 'murderous con-
tinent, and the further inland we sent them
the more they improved in physique 1t mat
tiers not now what may be said by interested
traders, selfish publicists, narrow minded grasp
ing merchants, discharged agents, about the
dangers of this climate. We have tested it most
thoroughly for six years. There is less sickness
by half in the Congo basin, even in its present
unprepared condition, than there is In the bot
tom lands Of Arkansas. a State which has
doubled its population during the last twenty
five years"
This is different story as we remember it,
than came from Mr.. Stanley after his first jour
ney to that region. The world was then given
to believe that the Congo country was full of
perils many OF the expedition were stricken
down, and those who came out with their lives
were shattered in health Stanley himself was
broken physically, and for months would not
listen to King Leopolds proposition to make
second expedition. At that time he was intent
on making readable material for the public.
Now he goes in the pay of Committee" intent
on building railway in that country. The man
is doubtless sincere in his present utterances,
but the reader cannot but recall that he did not
utter unqualified praise before. He proceeds to
say:
1.-The entire continent of Africa is II, 500 Eng
lish miles in length. He probably means the
entire coast line, since the continent is but
about 5000 miles in length. The four river
banks, if stretched in line, would be equal in
length to y, 600 statute miles The aggregate
Immediately accessible to commercial
enterprise may be said to be equal to belt
80 miles deep drawn around the entire CONT
nent. Such belt would require thirty four
souls to the square mile to produce population
equal to the 80, 960, 900 inhabitants of the
four river basins. Again almost the least eX-
plotted portion of the African coast-lire, 2 900
miles long, is that from the Gambia to st. Paul
de Loanda, which gives an annual trade of G32,
Od0 600 The banks of these four rivers, if equal
~ developed, ought TO furnish trade seven
times greater, or G240 600, 900. The gross sum
required for railways to create this enormous
trade is only f3 400 900. Let suppose that
continent Astounding with tropic produce, popu-
lated by 81 ,000, 900 of workable people, and show
ing a coast line of % 600 miles in length, sud
denly arose from the bosom of the Atlantic
Imagine the scramble for the possession of it by
the powers! Yet here four river basins offered
to civilization at the rate of I'D per acre. with
All annual trade of over 5s almost guar
anteed, which is certainly very much cheaper
than what is offered by a land company at the
present time in East Africa,
1t were impossible in the space Of newspaper
article to give an adequate idea of this valuable
work AS the successor of DR. Livingstone, in
his unfinished work, and of Captain Speke and
of Baker, Mr.. Stanley has acquitted himself in
a way that reflects honor upon his country.
True, he had the advantage of the experience
afforded by the men who went part of the way
before him. But he has carried the work on,
and has now opened to civilization another
continent
An idea may be had of the writer's engaging
style from single excerpt, taken at random
from much of it's kind:
'When speaking of African sunshine, it must
be remembered that there are different qualities
of sunshine. For instance there is the hard,
white, naked, undisguised sunshine of North
eastern America; there is the warm drowsy
haGy sunshine of the English summer; there is
the bright CHEEKY, purified sunshine of the
Mediterranean. African sunshine, however,
always appears to me, with all its great heat to
be "a kind of superior moonlight. Judging from
its effects scenery. Once or twice in this book
/ write of solemn looking hills. | can only
attribute this apparent solemnity to the
peculiar sunshine. 1t deepens the shadows and
darkens the dark green foliage of the forest,
while it imparts wan appearance a cold
reflection of light to naked slopes and woodless
hilltops. Its effect is chill austerity-an indie
scribable solemnity, a repeing unsocabity.
Your sympathies are not warmed by it; silence
has set its seal upon it, before it you become
speechless. Gaze your utmost on the scene,
admire it as you may, worship it if you WILL but
your love is not needed. Speak not of grace or
of loveliness in connection with it. Serene it
may be, but it is passionless serenity 1t is to
be contemplated, but not to be spoken TO- for
your regard Is fixed upon voiceess, sphinx like
immobility, belonging more to an unsubstantial
1reamlaud than TO real earth If you think of
this attempt at Analysing the cause of this
unspeakable loneliness, when next you gaze upon
African hillscenes, you will perhaps admit the
truth of these remarks. You will perceive that
it is purely want of sympathy between you and
and them, owing entirely to the strange sun
shine"
The work is published by Harper & Brothers,
and sold by The Bowen Merrill Company, In