The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-02-11
Tbe firesioe.
SANKEY'S African Service.

biltCuu bOt NltCs
The famous American explorer of the
Dark Continent would seem born to off
set in grand successes the terribly dis
astrous failures of our later Arctic ex-
petitions. In some most important
aspects the difficulties to be encoun-
tered in the task to which he set him
self were greater than those which
threaten in the ice-locked North. Furs
and stout fabrics are defence against
giant cold that stalks in high ATTITUDES;
but what can provide against the pesti-
lence that turks in every breath of moi
some air and in every draught of water
that tempts the traveller under the
burning equatorial sun, throughout
wildernesses full of poison fangs and
savage people? In the sparse popula-
ton of the far North the strangers who
have come sailing into their world have
uniformly found friends, hospitable and
helpful to the extent of their limited
resources; while the tribes of interior
Africa, crowding upon one another,
nurtured in war and brutalized by
centuries of slave-trading, must In every
instance be either conciliated or con-
quered before they will even grant the
right of way through their respective
territories, 1t is much to Stanley's
Credit, and equally In honor Of bu.
mainly and advancing civilization, that
conquering by kindness and possession
by purchase have been his method of
dealing with the natives, with only
few forced departures from this rule;
and the energy, wisdom and tact he has
displayed to that end must be conceded
oh hot ,t,.nI ;,,t 1n ,,,,1 at.
Of nation. Stanley in his present
visit to Europe, after having done more
than all other men to open up Africa
to commerce and all the benefits of civ
ilization, gives evidence of having be-
come too thoroughly merged in his
stupendous enterprise to any longer in
dulge in the asperity and complainings
of his previous visit, because of the
public lack of appreciation of his SER
vices and its opportunities. Hardly
man lives who can better afford to test
the question of an immortal name with
his fellows than Henry M. Stanley. AT
the German capital, where he has been
made the hero of the time, his modestly
uttered recommendations before the
International Conference have been
heard with profoundest respect, and
have exerted all the influence he could
desire. 1t is well known that Mr.. STAN
ley has during these last years confined
his best efforts at peaceful conquest to
what will in future be known as the
Congo Basin-a breadth of territory
stretching from the west coast across
the African Continent to the Indian
Ocean, where it has coast front of sew
enteen degrees, or seven hundred
eighty miles. For geographical facili-
ties the entering wedge is started from
the western side. The next movement
in which the great explorer means to
engage is the building of railroad to
connect the upper and lower portions
of the Congo river, which navigable
waters are broken in two by section
of falls, making necessary a portage of
two hundred thirty-ive miles. Eighty
miles of this distance, however, be-
tween the upper and lower falls, COM
pose middle navigable portion. He
estimates the cost of railroad for the
entire distance at S7,500,000; for the
same in two divisions, utilizing the in
tersecting waterway, S4,000,000; of
which the International Association
proposes to take half the stock, putting
the other half on the market for capt.
talists. This road, Mr.. Stanley well ar
CUES, would reduce the fatigue and per-
lis of travel to the minimum, and invite
foreign traders to settle region that
only needs developing in order to rank
with the most important in the world.
There is already good wagon-road all
the way from Vivi, one hundred ten
miles from the mouth of the Congo, to
Leopoldville at Stanley Pool, with posts
every ten miles, garrisoned by Euro
pean soldiers. -Four steamboats,, in
pieces, have been taken. over the road
and put together again for use on
the upper Congo. The settlement of
LeOpoldville has now three hundred in
habitants, Europeans or employees of
the association. Mr.. Stanley says that
the view from this point is beautiful.
About the base of the hill on which the
town is built are no less than twenty
African villages, all of whose chiefs are
friendly. These people he represents
as being exceedingly initiative, and
seeming to feel pride in associating
with Europeans and adopting their
ways. Undoubtedly they will need pro-
lection when strangers begin to flock
in; he predicts that they will assimi-
late with, instead of dying out before,
the progress of civilization, like the
indians. Twenty or thirty blacks of
the vicinity, who have been for some
time in trade with the whites, are living,
with their wives and children, in three
story iron houses imported from Eng
land at a cost each of ga 900 or e5, 900
worth of palm oil or palm kernels;
houses furnished with carpets, chairs
and tables, mirrors and inexpensive brio
a-brac, of which ornamentation the ma
tives are very fond.-The Wotchman.