Huntsville gazette., 1885-09-26
NEW LANDS.
rhe Scramble of European Nations for New
Colonial Possessions.

The Scramble of European Nations for New
Colonial Possessions.
The recent reports of Joseph Thom-
ION and H. H. johnson had hardly
,een before the public month when
he German Government dispatched
IN expedition, and by arrangement
With ten native chiefs, established
,rotectorate over vast territory in
Africa, south and southeast of Mount
lilimanjaro, which these explorers had
described as salubrious in climate and
ich in resources. This district is far
arger than the Usagara uplands near
Zanzibar, where Germany has also Sc
cured foothold.
South america is beginning to at
olorers are at work there or are pre-
barring to enter that field than have
oeen sent to South America for many
years. We have heard for some years
past of the Argentine expeditions
against the wild Indians of the great
plateau of Chaco. in the northern part
Of that Republic. Its savage tribes
have at last been completely subdued,
and this year, amid great public re-
joicings, these vast fertile plains,
through which well-armed caravans
have never before been able to pass,
have been thrown open to colonists. A
steamboat from Buenos Ayres has as.
cended the Paraguay River and its Yer
mejo branch. far into Chaco. One
colony has been planted in the country.
exploring parties are traversing it in
several directions, and, according to
the Government reports, Chaco has be-
fore it grand industrial and agricul-
tural future.
A ,out three months ago M. Coud-
reau read paper before the Society
of Commercial Geography in Paris on
the prairie regions of Brazilian and
French Guiana north of the Amazon, a
district that is almost unknown. After
living there for eight years, M. Coud-
reau asserts that these prairie lands,
lying as they do, behind the almost i'm
penetrable forest regions of the coast,
are we'll adapted to support in health
and comfort several millions of white
SCttlCIS. 1lC OdNO ludG Ludloi iai 1CfSAo .
do not exist there; that the country is
sprinkled with lakes of living water;
that coffee, cacao, tobacco and cotton
thrive; that horses and cattle flourish;
that several thousands of Brazilians,
Portuguese and Venezuelans have
made comfortable homes there, ard
that European colonists have nothing
to fear and everything to hope for in
casting in their lot with this new coun-
try. NJ. Coudreau's glowing account
will at least have the effect to secure
the thorough exploration, under
French auspices, of these almost illimi-
table prairies.
Whenever the Madagascar credit it
before the French Chamber of Deputies
its supporters eloquently urge further
appropriations, not only because the
great island. with its splendid harbors,
its abundant food supplies, and its min.
eral wealth, is Of large commercial
and strategetical Importance to
France. but also on the ground that it
is destined to offer an inviting field tC
French colonists. They say that all
The French Consuls, merchants, and
agents who have lived for many years
in Madagascar testify that in large
part of the island Europeans can en-
Joy good health, and that the country
offers enormous advantages for pastur-
ing cattle and for raising the food
plants and spices of the tropics and the
fruits of Europe. In the last debate,
few weeks ago, the chief speech in
behalf of the credit was devoted
wholly to the need of providing colo
nial outlets for Frances surplus popu-
lation and the practical value of Mad
agascar for colonizing purposes.
The quest for new lands where the
white race may live in peace and COM
fort is being carried into Central Asia,
into New Guinea, and into every part
of Africa. Many of these ambitious
schemes and hopes will come to naught.
Success in none of them can be at
tained without the expenditure of much
labor, time and money. These enter
prises, however, are constantly afford
ing fresh proofs of the fact that vast
sources of wealth are still untouched
in great regions which the energy and
courage of the Caucasian race are GER
tainly destined to add to the domain of
civilization. Y San.